Morning Read: D.C. Enforcing Gender Neutral Bathrooms
By Perry Stein
| Thursday, Jan 24, 2013 | Updated 8:27 AM EST
http://www.nbcwashington.com/blogs/first-read-dmv/Morning-Read-Mislabeled-Bathroom-Signs-In-DC-Could-Be-More-Strictly-Enforced-188187671.html Washington Business Journal reported on an interesting news item coming out of the District Wednesday: Gender neutral bathrooms.
In 2006, the D.C. Office of Human Rights issued a regulation that prohibited single occupancy public restrooms from being labeled as gender specific. The policy was intended to prevent discrimination against transgender men and women.
Although the rule has been on the books for seven years now it hasn't really been enforced. But, according to WBJ, that could all change soon. Public places that do not change their signs will now be slapped with a Class 3 civil infraction, possibly resulting in a $500 fine.
----
Jan 23, 2013, 11:07am EST Updated: Jan 24, 2013, 2:43pm EST
Gender neutral: D.C. threatens fines for mislabeled bathroom signs
Michael Neibauer
Staff Reporter- Washington Business Journal
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/breaking_ground/2013/01/gender-neutral-dc-threatens-fines.htmlIn D.C., the rule of the land is that single-occupancy public restrooms may not be set aside for men or women. They are gender neutral and must be designated as such, to avoid discriminatory, awkward or even violent incidents toward transgendered individuals.
But the 2006 regulation issued by the Office of Human Rights lacked teeth. While it won't be flushed, the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs' Construction Codes Coordinating Board has stepped in with a more forceful rule — change your signs or face a hefty fine.
The rule, which is now in effect, simply requires that multiple-occupancy public facilities are designated by a legible sign for each sex, and single-occupancy facilities with gender-neutral signs. For example, use a "restroom" sign, as opposed to a gender-identifying stick figures, or "cowboy" and "cowgirl."
