Jinny Batterson: Expand unisex restrooms

The part of North Carolina where I live has lots of greenways, parks and public transportation hubs that I frequently use. In most, though not all, there are clearly marked unisex restrooms, each with a single stall, a light and a latching mechanism. Sometimes these are designed so they can also serve people with physical disabilities.

I’ve always felt comfortable and secure in such facilities. At outdoor festivals and concerts I’ve attended, the portable restrooms provided are nearly always of similar design.

It seems to me that expanding the availability and use of this sort of facility would be a much more practical, less intrusive way to reduce the likelihood of unwanted restroom companions than convening a special session of the state legislature to pass a hastily crafted, broadly worded bill such as HB2.

I believe that most North Carolinians have enough common sense and consideration to use public facilities wisely.

This story was originally published March 29, 2016 at 6:26 PM with the headline "Jinny Batterson: Expand unisex restrooms."