If they have not already, patrons in all types of commercial facilities will soon discover that signs indicating separate men's and women's restrooms are disappearing. They are being replaced with "gender-neutral" signs.
According to Refuge Restrooms, a site that lists every public, all-gender restroom in the United States, there are now 4,500 such public restrooms in the country and that number is growing fast.
While many of these all-gender signs will say just that - "all-gender" or "gender-neutral" - some creative organizations have decided to add a little humor to their signs, aware it is somewhat of a contentious issue.
According to Impact Products, which now has a new Personal Care Division manufacturing products specifically for restrooms, here are the top five gender-neutral signs uncovered so far:
• Lou or Lulu? Any loo will do (Found in a Goddess and the Baker Restaurant, Chicago)
• Blokes or Birds Restroom (Seen in a Virgin Hotel in Chicago)
• We Don't Care (Located in a San Francisco office building)
• Whichever! (Several U.S. locations)
• Pointers and Setters (Uncovered at a roadside restaurant stop in Illinois)
"Whatever the sign, humorous or not, we believe restroom users should always have a positive restroom experience," says Amy Severtsky. "Clean restrooms, well stocked, including feminine hygiene products and dispensers, are always needed [and] will always be wanted no matter who uses the restroom or what the sign says on the door."