Boston City Hall now has gender-neutral bathrooms
To most, it’s just a bathroom on the 5th floor of Boston City Hall. But to some, it’s a revelation.
Mayor Marty Walsh signed an executive order Thursday to immediately establish gender-neutral restrooms outside of his office in Boston City Hall.
Boston is among the first city halls to institute gender-neutral restrooms in New England, according to a press release.
Sixty-five percent of Massachusetts’s transgender people have experienced some sort of discrimination in public settings, including verbal harassment, assault, or being denied access to public restrooms, according to a 2013 assessment by the Fenway Institute of the Life Skills project.
“Gender neutral bathrooms are important in providing a safe place for all people to use the facilities when needed without fear of harassment by others,’’ said Ruben Hopwood, coordinator of the Transgender Health Program at Fenway Health. “Providing gender neutral bathrooms send the clear message that all people are valued and invited to take part in the community.’’
Massachusetts was the first state to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. This move exemplifies the progress the Commonwealth is making for its LGBT population.
“Today marks a historic moment in Boston,’’ Walsh said in a statement. “Boston thrives on diversity, and is an inclusive city. This change will foster a safe and welcoming environment for employees and visitors, and will go a long way as we continue to work towards improving the lives of those who love and call Boston home.’’
These bathrooms can also benefit members of the disabled community, individuals with personal attendants of a different gender, and parents or guardians with children of a different gender.
The Mayor’s announcement comes during Boston Pride Week, a celebration of the LGBT population. Recently, trans visibility has been increasing at Pride events.
“Not only is this a huge step forward toward full inclusion, respect, and understanding of trans* members of our community, but it is also a genuine opportunity to educate the public at large as to how we can all be welcoming of transgender people,’’ wrote Sylvain Bruni, president of Boston Pride, in a statement. “We applaud Mayor Walsh’s decision, which reflects great leadership and places Boston at the forefront of equality worldwide.’’
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