The latest ruling in the often-thorny conversation of sex and gender is in Scotland, where primary schools have been ordered to provide single sex toilets; the case instigated by parents with firm convictions on the benefits of that provision.

This follows on the heels of the Supreme Court judgement in April defining ‘woman’ as only referring to biological sex, with implications for various circumstances including single biological sexed spaces. The legal and practical ramifications are likely to continue to be worked out over the coming months across the country. However, in terms of the single-sex toilets aspect, the interim guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) states that trans people should not be left without toilet facilities they feel comfortable and safe to use, in alignment with the Equality Act of 2010, which prohibits discrimination based on gender reassignment.

The Bible doesn’t shy away from talking about menstrual bleeding so neither should we

I approach this topic with caution, because to many people this is not just a ‘topic’. Behind the headlines are humans, image bearers loved by God. I won’t be talking about a Christian position on transgender; others have done this eloquently before me and I would highly recommend the resources at LivingOut.org. However, it bears stating that on encountering suffering, Jesus always responded with compassion, even in his own suffering. In Matthew 14:13-14, Jesus was mourning the death of his cousin, John the Baptist, but when he observed the suffering of the gathered crowd, he was moved with compassion and tended to them. Those experiencing gender dysphoria are likely to be currently or previously experiencing distress and so, like Jesus, our first response must be to love and show comfort to others out of the comfort God shows us when we experience troubles (2 Corinthians 1:4). My position therefore on single sex spaces, in particular, toilets in schools, is the provision of a ‘third space’ in addition to single sex toilets. A neutral ground, if you like, for children who might be navigating a journey impacted by gender dysphoria.

these kind and thoughtful girls not wanting to exclude anyone, but aware on a visceral level of the value of the current single-sex provision for girls in puberty

On considering the case and benefits of single-sex toilets in schools, I decided to go to source and spoke to my fifteen-year-old daughter and her friends. I asked whether they thought it was important to have girls-only toilets and importantly, was mashed up toilet paper still being thrown at the ceiling. Their responses took me straight back to my own experiences in the girls’ toilets. It seems that not only does this tradition persist, but so does the sense of safety, community and female solidarity in that space. From borrowing period products and lip gloss, to being a bolt hole for friendship, relationship and hormonal tearful breakdowns, the girls’ toilets have it all. The rapid and sometimes all-consuming physical changes experienced at that time require peer support.

I remember a girl losing a sock from her bra, stuffed in there to ‘ward off’ the unkindness from the boys about her developing body shape. A friend of mine calmly picked it up and handed it back with a smile, diffusing embarrassment and acknowledging this shared experience of navigating objectification. Still another friend told me of the acute shame she felt at anyone hearing her pad wrapper being ripped off, and that was in an environment where others were going through the same thing.

We need to stop being ashamed of our periods, the way God designed menstruation is amazing

I also asked them about only having gender neutral toilets available and they seemed uncertain, these kind and thoughtful girls not wanting to exclude anyone, but aware on a visceral level of the value of the current single-sex provision for girls in puberty. We could say this mirrors the moral confusion experienced in society, and this is exactly why we need to tread so carefully. Third space provision which creatively and sensitively considers the benefits of single-sex toilets offers a compassion-based solution. As Christians we should be seeking to mimic God who personifies compassion. From His self-identification as such in Exodus 34:6-7, to sending His son Jesus to die for us out of compassion for our sinful state, compassion must mark us as different. The rest, we must leave to the Holy Spirit.