In the wake of a widespread push to remove a statue of Thomas Jefferson from campus, several Hofstra University student organizations have banded together in order to demand an “all-gender locker room” for the school’s fitness center.
Our Vice President Dan has started an important initiative to put an all-gender restroom in Hofstra’s fitness center! To help with this, follow the link below and sign up with your pride email! https://t.co/B9C490SP5q pic.twitter.com/Z4mJADkDv4
— Hofstra TGIF (@hofstra_tgif) June 7, 2018
The tweet is coupled with an infographic which reads: “MAKE THE FITNESS CENTER GENDER-INCLUSIVE,” with a picture depicting an individual pushing two restroom doors labeled “male” and “female.” Under the female label is the caption “Get Yelled At,” while the caption “Get Beat Up” resides under the male label.
“Gendered spaces like locker rooms or showers can be scary or even dangerous for trans or gender-nonconforming individuals who don’t meet society’s expectations of gender. Support the campaign to have an all-gender locker room constructed in Hofstra’s David S. Mack Fitness Center by filling out a quick form!” the infographic concludes, declaring “Fitness has ‘NO GENDER!’”
Likewise, the Hofstra University Queer + Trans People of Color Coalition, or QTPOCC, shared the same infographic.
Are you a Hofstra student? Do you like trans and gender nonconforming people? If so, fill out this quick form — it only takes a few minutes, and with your support we’ll be one step closer to getting an all-gender locker room in the Fitness Center! https://t.co/NzUmqMQQUh pic.twitter.com/0PAsabD9lj
— QTPOCC ✊??️? (@hu_qtpocc) June 7, 2018
JaLoni Owens, a vocal advocate for the removal of Jefferson’s statue from campus, also shared her support in a Facebook status, sharing the link to the student-only petition.
According to the petition, Hofstra’s David S. Mack Fitness Center currently excludes the transgender and gender nonconforming community.
“Other universities, including UC Berkeley, University of Massachusetts at Amherst and Washington State University, have already added gender neutral facilities in their fitness centers. It is time for Hofstra University to do the same,” the petition concludes.
Hofstra Gender Identity Federation Vice President Daniel De Sousa, the individual behind the all-gender restroom petition, was quick to release an update via “The Pride Network: Hofstra University Chapter” Facebook page, claiming that school officials are already on board with the movement.
“AN UPDATE ON THE MOVEMENT TO HAVE AN ALL-GENDER LOCKER ROOM INSTALLED IN HOFSTRA’S FITNESS CENTER: Today I met with the Director and Assistant Director of Campus Recreation, both of whom were completely on board with our cause!” De Sousa wrote in the Facebook status.
Red Alert Politics reached out to Hofstra Campus Recreation to determine if the school would be implementing an all-gender restroom, but did not receive a response in time for publication.
