Calgary council supports motion to create gender-neutral 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."

Calgary Eyeopener5:39Gender neutral washrooms in Calgary

Coun. Brian Pincott explains why he wants to see all single-occupancy washrooms in Calgary labelled as gender neutral.

With council's backing, city administrationwill now engage with stakeholdersto 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 neutralwhen 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.

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