Gender Neutral Bathroom Bill Passes City Council

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Last week, we reported that a City Council committee approved a proposed gender neutral bathroom bill. Today, representatives confirmed that the full council passed the measure, which was originally introduced by Mark Squilla.

The bill requires that “male” and “female” signage be removed from all single-stall restrooms throughout Philadelphia. Squilla stated that the gender neutral bathrooms would “send a message declaring that all people, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation, are welcome.”

Last week, Nellie Fitzpatrick, the Director of LGBT Affairs for the city, said the measure would “assist in eliminating members of the public – store owners, employees, customers and so on – from policing the gender of others…This bill provides a space that is labeled for its purpose – a bathroom – and not a gender controlled space that allows others to question, harass or harm those seeking to use it.”