How do LGBTQ Students Feel About WHS’s Gender-Neutral Restrooms?

Amid the attack on transgender students across Iowa, Waukee High and other schools have been put in a tough spot not knowing the right course of action to take. KCCI asked for statements from Central Iowa schools following the legislation set into law in March. Waukee Community School District replied, “As you can imagine, we are still working through logistics and will follow the law.” “Work has begun to ensure we are complying with the new law.” 

Waukee High then designated three restrooms for our transgender and gender non-conforming students. One outside the elevator on both floors and another in the Special Ed hallway. The only way to access these restrooms according to the law is to have a signed permission slip from parents. “That’s dangerous. So many people’s parents are not supportive of them and they ask questions. That would out students.” Said transgender student Kam Williamson. 

Along with needing a permission slip to use these bathrooms the locations of these bathrooms is very inconvenient for those intended because of the slim time limit provided according to the law. All four bathrooms are near each other leaving most of the school without a bathroom at a reasonable distance. “I use them sometimes but most of the time it’s too far away.” replied transgender student Kai Jenkins. 

One student I interviewed had a suggestion “We don’t have enough Gender Neutral restrooms. We should use the choir restrooms.” said Violet Thornton. The students in this community want a more inclusive school that also keeps them safe and fits the law. Waukee was very quick to change. A little more change isn’t out of reach.