Asks council to create safe places for transgender residents

asks council to create safe places for transgender residents

Gender-neutral washroom issue raised in Whitby. WHITBY -- Transgender Oshawa resident Stacey Vetzal wants to raise awareness about challenges faced by transgender residents, including the need for more gender neutral washrooms in Durham. She recently spoke to members of Whitby council about how to create a more inclusive community. 

WHITBY -- Signs that distinguish between male and female public washrooms could be shutting the door to residents who might not fit neatly into the gender binary, according to PFLAG Canada.

Kim Dowds, representative with the organization's Durham chapter, addressed members of Whitby council recently to discuss the need for more gender-neutral washrooms in the community.

"There's still a long way to go in Durham Region when it comes to having gender-neutral public spaces for individuals," said Ms. Dowds, highlighting the recently passed Bill 33 (Toby's Act), which amended the Human Rights Code with respect to gender identity and gender expression.

"Society hasn't always kept up with the law and because of this, (transgender individuals) do not always feel comfortable going into the washroom of the gender of their choosing."

PFLAG is a national non-profit organization that unites family and friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Canada through support, education and resources. The group is currently working on helping local municipalities improve equality for all residents through the creation of trans-inclusive areas.

"We offer diversity and awareness training, customer service training, as well as advice and support when looking at updating policies and procedures," Ms. Dowds said.

Stacey Vetzal, a transgender Oshawa resident and a member of PFLAG Canada's education team, spoke to council at the meeting about feeling unwelcome when she attempts to use public washrooms.

"Most people when they approach a bathroom door, they don't have to think too much about which door they enter but to a transgender person, often we have a choice to make," she said, holding up a sign showing a lose-lose situation with both options resulting in dirty looks, verbal harassment and, in some cases, even physical attacks.

"Some of us go to great lengths and tremendous expense to change the appearance of our bodies so that we can live among society in our felt gender without ridicule or judgment, only to be labeled as deceivers ... we're left unable to escape this constant judgment based on our appearance."

The goal of the organization is to raise public awareness about the issue because many places already have a gender neutral washroom in the form of a separate disabled or family washroom so all it would take is a simple signage change, Ms. Vetzal added.

"We're not asking that they go and start into construction projects to make these kinds of changes, just to maybe adjust wording a little bit ... it's to create awareness that there are some people who are uncomfortable with that choice between male and female and it's not as clear for them."

Whitby council referred the issue to staff to engage in consultation with PFLAG and report back at a future date.