Resolution in Support of the Amendment of Wisconsin State Legislation 101.128 on Restroom Equity Whereas: As institutions of the University of Wisconsin System, the members of the University of Wisconsin System Representatives shares the following core mission with the University of Wisconsin System: each university shall serve the needs of women, minority, disadvantaged, disabled, and nontraditional students and seek racial and ethnic diversification of the student body and the professional faculty and staff; Whereas: According to the Wisconsin State Legislature Declaration of Rights, “Equality; inherent rights. Section [As amended Nov 1982 and April 1986] All people are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights; among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; to secure these rights, governments are instituted, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed [1979 J.R 36, 1981 J.R 29, vote Nov 1982; 1983 J.R 40, 1985 J.R 21, vote April 1986] ; Whereas: According to the Minnesota Psychological Association, the GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender) community falls under one of the most commonly marginalized groups in the United States; Whereas: According to the article, ‘Problems Faced by LGBT People in the Mainstream Society: Some Recommendations’, published in the ‘International Journal of Interdisciplinary and Multidisciplinary Studies’, “Lack of social recognition has an effect on the capacity of LGBT [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender] people to fully access and enjoy their rights as citizens They are more likely to experience intolerance, discrimination, harassment, and the threat of violence due to their sexual orientation, than those that identify themselves as heterosexual.”; Whereas: The following Universities in the University of Wisconsin-System have created All Gender Restrooms (or restrooms with the same purpose) on campus: University of WisconsinEau Claire, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, University of Wisconsin- La Crosse, University of Wisconsin- Madison, University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, University of WisconsinOshkosh, University of Wisconsin- Platteville, University of Wisconsin- River Falls, University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point, and University of Wisconsin- Superior; Whereas: Wisconsin State Legislation 101.128 on Restroom Equity has been limiting organizations and institutions in the State of Wisconsin from creating more All Gender Restrooms; Whereas: Wisconsin State Legislation 101.128 states, “Equal speed of access required The owner of a facility where the public congregates shall equip and maintain the restrooms in the facility where the public congregates with a sufficient number of permanent or temporary toilets to ensure that women have a speed of access to toilets in the facility where the public congregates that equals the speed of access that men have to toilets and urinals in that facility where the public congregates when the facility where the public congregates is used to its maximum capacity.”; Whereas: The verbiage used in Wisconsin State Legislation 101.128 does not mention members of the transgender community and institutions have interpreted the legislation to avoid creating all gender restrooms; Whereas: According to the Williams Institute (University of California- Los Angeles School of Law), 1.4 million adults in the United States of America identify as transgender and Wisconsin has estimated 19,150 adult residents who identify as transgender; Whereas: Due to Wisconsin State Legislation 101.128 these 19,150 residents and more non-residents of Wisconsin not have equal access to restrooms due to the lack of All Gender Restrooms; Whereas: According to Reuters, “Almost 60 percent of transgender Americans have avoided using public restrooms for fear of confrontation, saying they have been harassed and assaulted, according to the largest survey taken of transgender people in the United States.”; Whereas: According to National Center for Transgender Equality, 12 percent of transgender people were verbally harassed in public restrooms within the previous year, percent were physically attacked and percent were sexually assaulted Nine percent said someone denied them access to a bathroom Whereas: The lack of All Gender Restrooms creates a safety concern for the LGBTQ+ community, due to the stress, anxiety, embarrassment, and harassment that LGBTQ+ community members face when forced to use a restroom they are not comfortable using; Whereas: With this glaring safety hazard for LGBTQ+ community members, it is misleading and unfit to consider the Wisconsin to be a state where its residents are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights; among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; Whereas: The implementation of All Gender Restrooms creates more access to restrooms for everyone Hence converting equal amounts of male and female restrooms in buildings to All Gender Restrooms will truly provide equal access to all residents of Wisconsin; Whereas: The implementation of All Gender Restrooms also allow parents of young children with different genders to use the restroom without problems; Whereas: The implementation of All Gender Restrooms allow caregivers/personal attendants of different genders to use the restroom without problems; Whereas: The implementation of All Gender Restrooms promotes equality in Wisconsin; Whereas: Washington D.C, Austin, West Hollywood, Philadelphia, Delaware, Denver, Hoboken, California, Vermont, and more places in the United States have created or adopted Gender Neutral Legislation; Therefore be it Resolved: The University of Wisconsin - System Representatives call for an amendment to be made to Wisconsin State Legislation 101.128 where it is stated 'equal speed of access required.' ; Therefore be it further resolved: The University of Wisconsin-System Representatives propose that the new language used must include provisions for members of the transgender community and must include language on All Gender Restrooms in locations not limited to the basement; Therefore be it finally resolved: Upon approval, this resolution shall be forwarded on to: Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, Wisconsin Lt Governor Mandela Barnes, Department of Safety and Professional Services Secretary Dawn Crim, Department of Safety and Professional Services Deputy Secretary Nia Trammell chairs and vice chairs of senatorial committees that pertain to this Authored By: UWSP SGA Inclusivity Director Benny, UWSP SGA Speaker Pro-Temp Knipple; Sponsored By: Sponsoring Committee: ... implementation of All Gender Restrooms also allow parents of young children with different genders to use the restroom without problems; Whereas: The implementation of All Gender Restrooms allow caregivers/personal... creates more access to restrooms for everyone Hence converting equal amounts of male and female restrooms in buildings to All Gender Restrooms will truly provide equal access to all residents of Wisconsin;... have equal access to restrooms due to the lack of All Gender Restrooms; Whereas: According to Reuters, “Almost 60 percent of transgender Americans have avoided using public restrooms for fear