Concerns raised after Pennsylvania school installs windows in gender-inclusive bathrooms

A middle school in Pennsylvania is facing backlash for installing windows in its gender-inclusive bathrooms that allow visibility into the sink areas from the hallway. 

Emory H Markle Middle School in Parkville, Pennsylvania recently approved the installation, which does not offer a view into stalls, but provides a full view of the common areas, according to Hanover Evening Sun. The move has raised privacy concerns, particularly among LGBTQ+ advocates and parents.

The South Western School District board defended its decision, citing guidance from the Independence Law Center, a conservative organization. In an email to PennLive, board president Matthew Gelazela explained that the windows are meant to increase supervision, saying, “In making the area outside of stalls more viewable, we are better able to monitor for prohibited activities such as vaping, drug use, bullying, or absenteeism.” He added that the renovations “mirror what has existed in elementary schools for years.”

However, critics argue that the policy disproportionately affects transgender and nonbinary students. Eric Stiles, executive director of the Rainbow Rose Center, expressed his concerns to PennLive, stating, “This policy sends a chilling message to LGBTQ+ students that they are being surveilled. These windows will likely make students, especially those who use the bathrooms as a place to escape bullying, feel unsafe.”

Stiles also raised alarm over the role of the Independence Law Center, claiming the organization has influenced school district policies on issues like book bans and pronoun use. “This is the latest attempt to target LGBTQ+ students under the guise of safety,” he said.

The district spent $8,700 on the renovations, which have sparked a heated debate about privacy and student safety in public schools. Critics argue that the policy prioritizes control over student well-being.