Calgary council supports motion to create gender-neutral washrooms
Drew Anderson | CBC News | Posted: July 26, 2016 12:04 AM | Last Updated: July 26, 2016
New signs will be developed for single-occupancy stalls, but long-term plan aims at all city washrooms
On Monday, Calgary city council agreed to move forward on creating gender-neutral washrooms in civic buildings.
"I do know people in Calgary's trans community who are challenged going out in public if they know they'll have trouble accessing washrooms," said Coun. Brian Pincott, who brought forward the motion.
"We do have a barrier, and a barrier that's quite easy to overcome."
With council's backing, city administration will now engage with stakeholders to develop appropriate signage for all single-occupancy washrooms in city-owned buildings in order to remove gender distinctions.
The motion also calls for policies to be developed in order to eventually make all washrooms in city-owned buildings gender neutral — when the buildings are acquired, renovated or newly built.
"A lof of our statutes, a lot of our conventions, impose gender on others," said Pincott.
"Gender fluidity is not up to us to judge other people by."
The motion was supported by all on council except Ward 3 Coun. Jim Stevenson.