Gender-neutral toilets to be introduced in Luxembourg schools

The Luxembourg authorities plan to change their approach to sanitary infrastructure in schools. Gender-neutral toilets will be introduced in future school buildings, and urinals will no longer be included in designs. This was announced by representatives of the Ministry of Education at a meeting of the parliamentary committee on family and education. Toilets will be designated neutrally as WC, and individual cubicles will also be provided. According to officials, this standard will become mandatory for all new school buildings. The new technical lyceum in the centre of the country was cited as an example.

The discussion took place against the backdrop of ongoing debates surrounding LGBTIQ+ issues in education. Minister for Gender Equality Yuriko Backes recalled the high-profile petitions submitted a year ago: one demanded that LGBTIQ+ issues be removed from the school curriculum, while the other, on the contrary, called for their presence to be strengthened. Both initiatives quickly gathered the necessary number of signatures and led to parliamentary hearings in early 2025, as well as a noticeable surge in aggressive comments on the internet.

According to the minister, this period was a wake-up call, but it also confirmed the government's position. LGBTIQ+ people are part of the everyday reality of Luxembourg society, including schools, and the state has a duty to protect their rights. Backes referred to the February 2025 resolution initiated by CSV MP Marc Spautz, which condemns violence, hate speech and discrimination against minorities as a violation of human rights.

In response to the rise in online hate, the ministry has launched a pilot project in collaboration with respect.lu, aimed at countering aggression on social media. The campaign will be evaluated after the first year. At the same time, the implementation of the national action plan to protect the rights of LGBTIQ+ people and cooperation with relevant organisations continues. At the same time, Backes emphasised that organisations such as Rainbow Centre and Cigale only visit schools at the request of the educational institutions themselves, rejecting the notion of "activist imposition".

Tension in the committee was caused by a speech by ADR MP Fred Keup, who stated that different views on gender should be considered as equal values and that schools should not conflict with the attitudes children learn in their families. He also expressed the view that unilateral political pressure could increase resistance in society.

This position was strongly rejected by the government. Backes emphasised that this is not a matter of value judgements, but of human rights and the right of every individual to respect and protection from discrimination. LSAP MP Georges Engel supported her, recalling that academic research has been pointing to the existence of gender diversity for decades and that discussing these issues contributes to education rather than imposing views.

The issue of compulsory attendance at sex education classes was discussed separately. Education Minister Claude Meisch stated that refusal to attend classes on the grounds of personal or family beliefs is unacceptable. According to him, the debates that took place helped to clarify the content of school curricula. Secondary school teachers were sent a special guide on gender diversity, and training courses on LGBTIQ+ topics received positive feedback. In primary school, issues of body awareness and sex education are introduced gradually and in accordance with age.