Over the summer, Oswego High School added a gender neutral bathroom in the main cafeteria hallway. This has been a long awaited process since the passing of the “Illinois Equal Restroom Access” bill, that went into effect on Jan. 1, 2020.
“As a school district and school, we have and will continue to reflect upon how to provide an inclusive environment for all of our students,” says Andrea Parker, Assistant Principal of Student Services.
Gender neutral bathrooms have been a topic of discussion since long before the bill passed in 2020. For years, students have advocated for this addition to the school environment, with the change demonstrating a supposed willingness within the school’s community to accept transgender and non-binary students. However, this change feels like the bare minimum.
As a non-binary student, I believe Oswego has not done nearly enough to accommodate for it’s non-conforming students. In my experience, the school has barely improved on its acceptance of students like me. This behavior is, in itself, to be expected. As someone who’s been publicly out for years, I have seen more than a fair share of homophobic and transphobic behavior.
The problem itself isn’t the direct fault of the school. However, this behavior and those who act in a bigoted manner are most usually protected by the school. Harassment between students due to differences in gender, sexual orientation, and gender expression has always been problem at OHS. In the four years I have attended the school I have experienced and seen time and time again students who often act with hateful intent getting no more than a slap on the wrist—that is, if the school decides to punish one of the offenders beyond a stern talking to.
The school’s unwillingness to punish assaulters and harassers goes much further than basic transphobia and homophobia. SD308, and by connection Oswego, has acknowledged that fact after our student surveys in Student Support during the 2021-2022 school year, written about by 42Fifty last year. At the end of last year, the school had promised new guidelines and policy for reporting. However, the positive effect of these changes has yet to be noticeable in any real way.
Students like me have been victims of harassment for too long, and the new bathroom bill shows an attempt to amend these wrongs. However, it is not unreasonable to acknowledge that the school has been more than late in its progress, especially since the Illinois Equal Restroom Access Bill passed over 2 years ago. Only now has the school adopted the change after needing to be enforced by state legislation.
That is why, although I support and hope for more advancements in Oswego’s protection and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community, the changes made resemble no more than superficial support. Without solving the problem of punishing the offenders, all further changes made by the school will continue to be performative in nature without a more supportive environment for all their students and harsher punishments for those who act in hateful and bigoted ways.
Hi, I'm Abraham Gallegos, this is my third year on staff. I am Managing Editor, and previously was the news editor. I'm so happy to be bringing you the news and opinions of our staff and of myself and I'm looking forward to senior year.
Hi Abraham. I think it’s a good sign that places like the Paramount Arts Center in Aurora have also updated their restrooms to include a gender neutral bathroom. Continue to find ways to advocate and support change!