Standing at a crossroads, the weight of the decision weighs heavy. The ladies room is comfortable, but it is the men’s room that you’re told to use. This is a common struggle for individuals that identify as transgender.

Transgender is a term used to describe someone who transgresses gender boundaries, according to the LGBT resource center of the University of California.

Being a transgender person comes with a plethora of issues, such as body dysphoria and depression. Forcing people to choose which bathroom is more acceptable to use based on cultural norms and gender roles causes unnecessary stress on everyone involved.

Regardless, heated debate about whether unisex or gender neutral restrooms continues on. In fact, there is a page on Deabate.org that is devoted specifically to whether unisex bathrooms should be allowed.

The argument many citizens use is that the introduction of unisex bathrooms will result in unnecessary awkwardness and a higher chance of sexual harassment.

Not only are these concerns found on debate websites, but they are also found in the news room.

A 2014 article posted by Independent, a news website, in response to unisex bathrooms being allowed in public schools, Rachel Roberts, said,  “I think they could be a recipe for disaster – a teenage pregnancy here, a sexual assault there, lots of discomfort and embarrassment for both sexes, a urine-soaked mess of raging hormones, sexual bullying and teenage tears.”

Despite popular knowledge, however, unisex bathrooms are generally more open and have more visible spaces making them less attractive to predators. Studies conducted by the Transgender Law Center from 2003 and on show that multiple person, all-gender bathrooms actually report no complaints, no harassment and no violence.

In an ever evolving society, young people must be given the opportunity to learn in a place where they feel safe in order for them to achieve their goals.

In a study conducted by Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network in 2009, researchers found that transgender students who were being harassed based on their gender identity were more likely to skip school, have low grade point averages and low educational aspirations.

Of course, unisex restrooms will not be the fix all to the social inequality that these people face. Nevertheless, it is a step in the right direction toward peace for a group of people who are often oppressed simply for being who they are.