Law and the lavatory: Ruminations on bathroom bans, building plans and gender demands

In the current political environment, there is a heightened debate around gender identity and the law. This article provides a reflective approach to exploring legal regulation of gender identity in relation to public bathrooms, with particular attention to access issues for trans and gender diverse people, building on earlier scholarship and recent public debates. Reflecting on these debates, the author draws from their personal experience to examine laws and regulations governing provision of and access to gendered and non-gendered bathrooms in Victoria, Australia and argues for regulatory reforms to mandate the provision of all-gender bathrooms in public buildings alongside gendered options.