RECOMMENDATION 6
Recommendation 6:
Mandate change in building/facility standards to have safe, accessible, all-gender washrooms in all public spaces in Ontario, including on reserves.
The Problem:
The lack of all-gender washrooms in public spaces reduces safety for 2SLGBTQ+ youth, including in schools, shelters, and in outdoor public areas.
Despite changes to the Ontario Human Rights Code in 2012, adding gender identity and gender expression to the list of protected grounds, public spaces continue to have binary washrooms.
Prioritizing safety, all-gender washrooms must be implemented in a way that does not stigmatize 2SLGBTQ+ youth who want to use them. In some Ontario high schools, trans, nonbinary and gender diverse students are instructed to use the staff washroom, which has caused discomfort, unsafe situations and tokenism.
The Ontario Building Code must be updated to:
Remove gender-binary language
Increase the requirement of the number of accessible washrooms
Require all-gender washrooms (including ones that are single stall, accessible)
Incorporate public education about the changes
For 2SLGBTQ+ youth, these public spaces must include:
Schools
Government buildings, including community centres and libraries
Shelters and drop-in spaces
Public parks
Spaces that may be private but function like public spaces, such as malls, waterfront areas, grocery stores, food courts, etc.
What 2SLGBTQ+ Youth Are Saying
“MORE GENDER-NEUTRAL BATHROOMS!!!!! every building should have washrooms that are gender-neutral”
— 2SLGBTQ+ youth under 18 from Southwestern Ontario
“Gender-neutral bathrooms should be accessible in all areas”
— 2SLGBTQ+ youth under 18 in Barrie
“I want gender-neutral washrooms at my school.”
— Racialized 2SLGBTQ+ youth under 18 in Eastern Ontario
“All companies having non-gendered washrooms”
— Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ youth in Belleville
Ideas to #DoBetter
Local college commits to having a minimum number of single stall, accessible, all-gender washrooms in every building on campus. The college also commits to having these washrooms be integrated in all new construction, including student housing. A trans, nonbinary and gender diverse student group convenes to give feedback about placement, signage and public education.
A community hub that houses multiple community organizations launches a multi-language public education campaign about the all-gender washrooms located there. Simple messaging is provided to all community organizations located within the hub about how to use the public education materials. When someone defaces the all-gender washroom sign, the community hub hosts a community meeting to discuss the harm, and to collaboratively plan for how to restore a sense of safety.
A coalition of MPPs push for changes to the Ontario Building Code. At minimum, they demand that every government building, regardless of their age or location, have an all-gender washroom, by 2025.
Business Improvement Area (BIA) develops a project to convert binary single-stall washrooms in local restaurants to all-gender washrooms. 2SLGBTQ+ youth are hired to design signage. The BIA secures funding to build new all-gender washrooms in a park located within the BIA.
Local sports arena undergoes renovations to have all-gender washrooms and change rooms for a new season. To prepare for reopening, all staff, including part-time, seasonal, janitorial and security team members participate in multiple training sessions on how to describe and explain the new washrooms and change rooms, and how to ensure safety for those who are using them.