A California university is doing away with traditional men’s and women’s locker rooms in an effort to support transgender students – even as the state’s governor condemns transgender athletes in female sports.
The University of California, Davis announced plans last month to renovate the locker rooms at its Activities and Recreation Center, citing student feedback as the motivation for the $5 million project.
‘We value inclusive, accessible environments that accommodate the diverse needs of our community,’ schools officials said at the time, according to Fox News.
‘We are pleased to announce that we will be remodeling the current locker room facilities to implement universal locker rooms.
‘All campus and recreation members can use our universal locker rooms, regardless of who they are and how they identify,’ they continued, noting the space will be ‘inclusive of members with disabilities and all gender identities.’
But after some students expressed concerns about the safety of the ‘universal’ locker rooms, which were seized upon by critics of the transgender movement, the university revised its statement, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
It now says, ‘All Campus Recreation members will be able to use our new locker rooms. These spaces include ADA-accessible facilities for members with disabilities.’
Under the plans for the new locker room, the university would offer a handful of private cabanas, changing rooms and toilet rooms with floor-to-ceiling walls and doors.
The University of California, Davis announced plans last month to renovate the locker rooms at its Activities and Recreation Center
The university said the space will be ‘inclusive of members with disabilities and all gender identities’
Renderings also show that separate men’s, women’s and gender inclusive bathrooms would still be made available to students.
But the plans have drawn some scrutiny from community members, with one student taking their thoughts to Reddit.
‘I get that the school wants to be more inclusive of gender expansive people, but the locker room is supposed to be a space for people to feel safe,’ the pupil wrote.
‘Women already have to worry about men looking at them when they are working out and adding men to their locker rooms is just wrong.
‘The same can be said about men who just want to be comfortable in their own bodies, but are on edge because there are women nearby who might see them.
‘It takes away the sense of comfort we feel surrounded by people of our same gender,’ the anonymous student concluded.
‘Locker rooms are supposed to be a safe space, and I feel like this change harms more people than it helps.’
Another student commented, ‘It’s going to feel a lot more uncomfortable for me, and I’m sure that other people are also going to feel the same.
UC Davis officials insist the renovation will address students’ privacy and safety concerns. Chancellor Gary S May is pictured
Under the plans for the new locker room, the university would offer a handful of private cabanas, changing rooms and toilet rooms with floor-to-ceiling walls and doors
Renderings show that separate men’s, women’s and gender inclusive bathrooms would still be made available to students
‘I change in front of my locker and use moisturizer because that’s where all my stuff is and now I’ll have to be doing that in front of the opposite gender as well,’ the student lamented.
A third also questioned the safety of the proposal.
‘What happens when a man or other steps into this “private” room and now has [physical] cover (a private room) to sexually assault a woman/other?’ the student asked.
The comments were seized upon by those who oppose transgender athletes in female sports, including Beth Bourne – whose bio says she works at the school.
‘It’s too bad women’s rights to safety, privacy and dignity were never a consideration by the UC Davis design team,’ she wrote on X, while another user asked if ‘there are ANY women who would go shower and change in a locker room with men?
‘Why even have a locker room?’ the X user quipped. ‘Just put the lockers in the middle of the quad. If everyone is changing in front of everyone, what’s the point?’
Even former tennis pro Martina Navratilova chimed in, calling the move ‘beyond f***ed up.
‘Be prepared to lose a lot of women to this insanity,’ she warned school officials.
One student shared their thoughts about the renovation in a post to Reddit
As others shared their concerns, Beth Bourn e- whose bio says she works at the school – said she was glad female students were speaking up
Former tennis pro Martina Navratilova called the move ‘beyond f***ed up’
UC Davis officials, though, insist the renovation will address students’ privacy and safety concerns while also improving operational efficiency, allowing for quicker emergency responses and ensuring accessibility for students with disabilities.
‘In the redesign, common space is for use by all members and the changing areas, showers and restrooms are fully private,’ university spokesman Bill Kisliuk told the Chronicle.
‘We are committed to creating a welcoming environment for our campus community,’ he added.
Renovation is now scheduled to start on Monday, and the project is expected to be completed by September, according to The Davis Enterprise.
Yet the move comes as California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared that it is unfair for transgender athletes to take part it women’s sports.
His shocking comment came during the launch of his new podcast, when he sat down with Trump ally and MAGA lord Charlie Kirk.
Still, Newsom said it was important to ensure that vulnerable communities were protected.
‘There’s also humility and grace… that these poor people are more likely to commit suicide, have anxiety and depression, and the way that people talk down to vulnerable communities is an issue that I have a hard time with as well,’ he said.
‘So both things I can hold in my hand. How can we address this issue with the kind of decency that I think you know is inherent in you, but not always expressed on the issue?’
The governor is now expected to run for president in 2028.