SJ schools assign all-inclusive bathrooms

The San Jose Unified School District has begun officially designating all-inclusive restrooms at all of its campuses and offices, district officials said.

The process began during the 2016-2017 school year and should be completed by the end of 2017, the district said.

Lincoln High School in San Jose was the first to designate all-inclusive restrooms. It did so in May 2016, after the LGBTQ campus coalition advocated for them, according to district officials.

“All-inclusive” is defined as open to all gender identities, including male, female and transgender, the district said. Each school site will have at least one single-occupancy student bathroom in or near the health office with signs identifying it as all-inclusive.

Lincoln High Principal Matt Hewitson said in a statement:

“Our students have handled this change with appreciation, maturity and respect.”

Hewitson said school security and administrators monitor safety and guard against harassment and bullying.

Lincoln also provides text lines for students to report incidents in the all-inclusive bathrooms, the district said. There have been no reported incidents in more than a year, according to the district.