An incident of vandalism in an all-gender restroom at San Joaquin Delta College has prompted an ongoing investigation and a strong response from the campus community. Offensive writing was found scrawled on a trash can in the Shima Center restroom on Nov. 13, according to college police.
The original message, reading “God made two genders,” was later altered to say “God hates you specifically,” with additional annotations countering the initial statement. Delta College Police Sgt. Jim Bock classified the initial message as “bias motivated” but noted it did not qualify as a hate crime. The vandalism is being treated as a criminal act, with authorities reviewing surveillance footage to identify the perpetrator, although the high traffic in the restroom has made this challenging.
Delta College President Lisa Aguilera Lawrenson issued a statement to reassure LGBTQIA+ students and staff, emphasizing the college's commitment to fostering an inclusive and discrimination-free environment. “I am working with our Delta College Pride Coalition on ways to provide support to those impacted by this incident,” Lawrenson stated. “We will take immediate and appropriate action to investigate and respond to harassment that creates a hostile environment.”
Delta College houses all-gender restrooms in many of its larger buildings as part of its efforts to promote inclusivity. Lawrenson condemned the vandalism as counter to the college’s mission of being a “student-centered, anti-racist, equity-focused college.”
The investigation remains active, and the college has reiterated its dedication to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all members of its community.
This is a summary of the original article by Chris Woodyard, published by Stocktonia. Read the full story here.
