LGBTI and sanitation: what we know and what the gaps are

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Publication Date2017

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Author(s)Connie Benjamin and Andrés Hueso

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Access DataRestricted access
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This report is relevant for humanitarian practitioners and researchers because it focuses on an under-researched area (WASH) through a diverse SOGIESC inclusion lens, and provides critical analysis of the short-comings of existing research; this resource will help practitioners understand the importance of a truly inclusive approach.

This paper considers the existing literature on, and experiences of, LGBTI people regarding challenges to accessing sanitation. The paper first considers the challenges faced by developed countries, and solutions practitioners have trialled or implemented. Their literature review elicited that numerous papers have been published on who should have access to which toilets, and that gender-neutral and all gender toilets have been implemented in the US, the UK and in China to account for the needs of trans or third gender individuals. However, in certain settings such as schools, where these options were not made available, students could not always access the toilets that matched their gender identity. Second, this paper considers the challenges faced by developing countries, and solutions practitioners have trialled or implemented.

The authors’ literature review found that resources were lacking on the experiences of trans gender or third gender individuals regarding public toilets, but that problems identified included being harassed and abused in men’s toilets, ridiculed in women’s toilets and suspected of sex work. Transgender women in India reported covering their faces when entering a women’s toilet to conceal their identities, or to delay going to the toilet until they could find somewhere more private.The paper found that a larger pool of literature existed on the experiences of transgender people (predominantly trans women) and accessibility when using public toilets, however, far less could be found on LGBI groups.

Furthermore, no published studies on the interrelationships of LGBTI individuals and sanitation were found by the authors’ during their literature review. Development organisations and governments in developing and developed countries for the most part acknowledge the need for integrating, for example, menstrual hygiene management in WASH programmes, and see the importance of adequately addressing the risk women face of experiencing gendered violence when trying to access WASH services. This has included ample recognition that a connection exists between SDG 6 – calling for clean water and sanitation, and SDG 5 – aiming for gender equality. What is lacking is research and policies that protect and consider the needs of LGBTI diverse actors, specifically regarding their safe and rightful access to WASH services.

[Quote]

"a few sources report intersex individuals facing similar problems as transgender people. There is even less evidence on the challenges of lesbian, gay and bisexual people may face in regard to sanitation. While this might point to the fact that they generally don't face any major issues linked to sanitation, it could also be that these problems have not been reported so far."

"as a transwoman highlighted in the Indian Sanitation Action Summit, if women were not scared of them, they could use the women's toilets without any problem ... hence highlighting that in the long term stigma should be addressed and transgender individuals should be able to access the toilet matching their gender identity"

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This paper considers the existing literature on, and experiences of, LGBTI people regarding challenges to accessing sanitation. The paper first considers the challenges faced by developed countries, and solutions practitioners have trialled or implemented. Their literature review elicited that numerous papers have been published on who should have access to which toilets, and that gender-neutral and all gender toilets have been implemented in the US, the UK and in China to account for the needs of trans or third gender individuals. However, in certain settings such as schools, where these options were not made available, students could not always access the toilets that matched their gender identity. Second, this paper considers the challenges faced by developing countries, and solutions practitioners have trialled or implemented.

The authors’ literature review found that resources were lacking on the experiences of trans gender or third gender individuals regarding public toilets, but that problems identified included being harassed and abused in men’s toilets, ridiculed in women’s toilets and suspected of sex work. Transgender women in India reported covering their faces when entering a women’s toilet to conceal their identities, or to delay going to the toilet until they could find somewhere more private.The paper found that a larger pool of literature existed on the experiences of transgender people (predominantly trans women) and accessibility when using public toilets, however, far less could be found on LGBI groups.

Furthermore, no published studies on the interrelationships of LGBTI individuals and sanitation were found by the authors’ during their literature review. Development organisations and governments in developing and developed countries for the most part acknowledge the need for integrating, for example, menstrual hygiene management in WASH programmes, and see the importance of adequately addressing the risk women face of experiencing gendered violence when trying to access WASH services. This has included ample recognition that a connection exists between SDG 6 - calling for clean water and sanitation, and SDG 5 - aiming for gender equality. What is lacking is research and policies that protect and consider the needs of LGBTI diverse actors, specifically regarding their safe and rightful access to WASH services.