California College Faces Backlash for Replacing Men's, Women's Locker Rooms with All-Sex Locker Rooms

The University of California, Davis, has stirred up controversy with its decision to transform its men’s and women’s locker rooms into "universal" all-sex locker rooms. The move, aimed at promoting inclusivity, has sparked outrage among women’s rights activists.

In a February announcement, the university explained that the renovations were designed to create an inclusive space for all. "We value inclusive, accessible environments that accommodate the diverse needs of our community. We are pleased to announce that we will be remodeling the current locker room facilities to implement universal locker rooms," the statement read.

The new locker rooms will be open to all members of the campus recreation center, regardless of gender identity or disability status. The university emphasized that these facilities would feature individual, private spaces with floor-to-ceiling locking doors, claiming this would provide more privacy than the current format.

However, not everyone is on board. Women’s rights activists and students have expressed concerns, with many questioning the impact on privacy and safety. Tennis legend Martina Navratilova didn’t hold back, calling the decision "beyond f----- up" and warning that the university risks alienating women with such changes. Her take? "Be prepared to lose a lot of women to this insanity." Ouch.

The university plans to spend $5 million on the renovations, with the current locker rooms closing immediately and reopening in September. Students have until Wednesday to remove all their belongings from the existing facilities.

The timing of this announcement added fuel to the fire. It came just a day after two legislative efforts to restrict transgender athletes from participating in women’s and girls’ sports failed at both state and federal levels. On Monday, the U.S. Senate was unable to pass the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act due to a Democratic filibuster, while Minnesota’s House also voted down the Preserving Girls’ Sports Act.

The backlash against UC Davis’ decision has been swift and vocal on social media, with activists and students alike sharing their concerns. Meanwhile, the university maintains that these changes are a step toward fostering a more inclusive community.

Whether this bold move will pave the way for other institutions or serve as a cautionary tale remains to be seen. For now, one thing’s clear: the debate over inclusivity versus individual privacy is far from over.