– At secondary school, I chose to wear gym clothes all day rather than change, says Alexandra Fredwall with relief. The 16-year-old was born a boy, but today defines herself as a trans woman. For several years, she has avoided swimming pools and gyms. This is because they are not adapted to her. – I have tried both men’s and women’s wardrobes. Both make me feel left out. Fredwall wants wardrobes adapted to the third legal gender. The term is used for people who do not consider themselves male or female. Alexandra Fredwall has not been to the water park Aquarama in Kristiansand for several years. Photo: MALIN HEGGEBØ ROLFSEN / news Student Dorian Gabriel Norheim at the University of Agder defines himself as non-binary. He believes that changing rooms for only two genders exclude large sections of society from activities. – If there were gender-neutral changing rooms, “people like me” would also have been able to participate in such activities, he says. Norheim used to go to the swimming pool weekly. Now he doesn’t do that anymore. – It’s embarrassing. I feel like a “freak show” that is always a bit on the fringes. Dorian Gabriel Norheim defines himself as non-binary. Photo: MALIN HEGGEBØ ROLFSEN / news Two out of ten feel uncomfortable 16.2 per cent of the population answers in a new survey from Bufdir that they agree with the statement “it would be uncomfortable to share a wardrobe with a trans person”. It is worst in Agder and Vestfold and Telemark. Over 20 percent agree with the statement. Åge Bjelland is leader of FRI Agder. He believes it is time to build more gender-neutral wardrobes. – We have mentioned it to the municipality, but they have been more concerned with gender-neutral toilets, says Bjelland. No further plans In 2018, Kristiansand municipality removed the women’s and men’s signs at the town hall, to appear more inclusive. – Like the rest of the country, Kristiansand still has a long way to go, says Hanne Kro Sørborg. She is a LIM advisor (Equality, inclusion and diversity) in Kristiansand municipality. Sørborg says the municipality has no further plans for gender-neutral changing rooms. – I want both people with disabilities, people with an immigrant background, with different sexual orientation and gender expression to have access to safe changing rooms, she says. Hanne Kro Sørborg works with inclusion in Kristiansand municipality. Photo: Iris Elin Ullvang / news High costs According to the municipality and swimming pools such as Aquarama, high costs and a demanding conversion process prevent the development of gender-neutral changing rooms. Manager at Aquarama Cathrine Wilson says that they have a family wardrobe that can be used by everyone. In the hall, there are also cubicles in the men’s and women’s wardrobes, which can be used for more private changing. Cathrine Wilson is head of bathrooms at Aquarama. She says she understands Fredwall’s frustration and says the staff are trying to accommodate as much as possible. Photo: Malin Heggebø Rolfsen No overview The Spicheren training center in Kristiansand has a gender-neutral changing room. Center manager Kristian Jøranson says it is used almost every day. He believes it is one of the few places in the country with such an option. The organization Skeiv ungdom demands that all public institutions, schools, universities and colleges, swimming pools and private companies introduce gender-neutral toilets, cloakrooms and/or changing rooms that are accessible to all. According to the Norwegian Labor Inspection Authority’s regulations on changing rooms, it is stated that workplaces must normally have separate changing rooms for women and men. Statsbygg says they do not have an overview of how many of their buildings are designed for people other than women and men.
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Trans woman Alexandra Fredwall calls for wardrobes suitable for everyone – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
