Harvard’s lack of gender non-specific bathrooms has caused transgender and gender-variant students to alter eating and drinking habits and suffer severe cases of dehydration, according to a report released yesterday by the Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, and Supporters Alliance (BGLTSA).

The study, which encompassed first-year dormitories, upperclass houses, major classroom buildings and libraries, identified 38 gender non-specific bathrooms and 24 single-occupancy bathrooms assigned to either men or women.

Members of BGLTSA issued four major requests in connection with the study: the neutralization of all gender-specific, single occupancy bathrooms; proper labeling and designation of all bathrooms; inclusion of at least one acceptable gender non-specific bathroom in any future buildings; and immunity from disciplinary action for using a bathroom that a student deems appropriate for his or her gender.

BGLTSA Co-Chair Stephanie M. Skier ’05. who is also a Crimson editor, said that these recommendations are necessary to ensure the safety and rights of transgender members of the Harvard community.

“There are transgender students at Harvard,” Skier said. “It would be a much safer and more welcoming place for students, staff and faculty if bathrooms were accessible, gender non-specific and marked as such, and if people know they are not going to be taken to the Ad Board or fired from their job for just using the bathroom as they normally do.”

While there are 38 gender neutral bathrooms at Harvard already, the study found that these bathrooms are mostly located in the River Houses, ignoring the needs of students who are in class.

“There are basically no options in classroom buildings for transgender or gender variant people who need to use the bathroom,” said Jordan B. Woods ’06, the organizer of the study and BGLTSA political chair.

“In terms of Harvard, I don’t think we are doing as good of a job as we could,” Woods said.

Skier said that the dearth of gender non-specific bathrooms near classrooms forces transgender students to avoid using the bathroom for extended periods of time, leading to severe health consequences.

“There have been studies done that show that transgender people are at a higher risk for bladder infections and dehydration as a result of not using the bathroom,” Skier said.

Skier said that many of these students simply cannot use public restrooms for fear of harassment or even arrest.

“There have been a lot of cases where people have been arrested for using the bathroom,” Skier said.

While BGLTSA spokespeople said there were no documented cases or studies of such harassment at Harvard, Woods said that he is aware of students who have run into trouble.

“Even if they are not documented, I know people who have bad experiences in bathrooms here,” Woods said.

BGLTSA Co-Chair M. C.D. Barusch ’06 said that her organization is not yet calling for multiple-stall, gender non-specific bathrooms.