26-02-2025
UC to replace 'biological' bathroom signs, apologizes to students for any harm caused
The University of Cincinnati will be replacing bathroom signage using the word "biological men" and "biological women", according to an email administrators sent to students Wednesday afternoon.
"This was an error on our part, and we apologize for the harm it may have caused," read the email from vice provost Nicole Mayo and vice president Bleuzette Marshall, referring to the bathroom signs that had sparked outrage after being posted on Reddit and going viral last week.
In response to a question during a student protest of a UC trustee meeting Tuesday about whether using the word "biological" was legally necessary, university president Neville Pinto called the signs "an error."
More: UC president calls 'biological' bathroom signs error as students, faculty protest
The Enquirer has requested records about the cost of creating as well as installing the "biological" bathroom signs and any email discussions associated with the installation.
Some schools, including Ohio State University, left their bathroom signs as they were, and Ohio Rep. Adam Bird, R-New Richmond, who co-sponsored Senate Bill 104, told an Enquirer reporter Tuesday that changing the words on the signs was not necessary, although UC's initial decision did fall in line with the new law.
Ohio's new law requiring students to use multi-occupancy bathrooms, shower rooms, changing rooms and locker rooms that align with their assigned sex at birth took effect Tuesday.
In doing so, the law is intended to prevent transgender students from using facilities that correspond with their gender identity.
The law applies to multi-occupancy facilities, so schools are still permitted to offer single-occupancy bathrooms, more than 300 of which are available across UC's campus.
More: Ohio's transgender bathroom law goes into effect today. How will schools comply?
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: UC to replace 'biological' bathroom signs
