South LA High School Among First To Offer Gender-Neutral Bathroom

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) —  A South Los Angeles high school  is among the first to offer students a gender-neutral restroom.

CBS2's Randy Paige reports the school's Gay-Straight Alliance fought for the change at the Santee Education Complex.

Students there symbolically ripped a placard off the door of a second-floor bathroom that was formerly designated for just women.

They were able to college 700 signatures on a petition to make the change and get the project rolling. As of Thursday, students will be able to share this multi-stall restroom.

Principal Martin Gomez told Paige there was some opposition to the "It's Just A Toilet" campaign.

He says it included, "some phone calls, emails, some social media. Comments that are not so nice," Gomez says.

Gomez said the change is not just about providing a gender neutral bathroom -- it's also about promoting a school where the students feel safe.

"Some of them have said that they've been bullied in the restrooms," Gomez said, "this is one of the potential solutions and this is the one they followed up on the most and they had a good plan to make sure it is safe"

"I just want to use the restroom in peace and not having to be pushed around or bullied," said student Johnny Gomez.

Students here who fought for the change, told Paige they are proud and happy to have broken new ground. They decided to capture the moment in time, how else? -- a selfie.