New public spaces in Cambridge may come with gender-neutral bathrooms, thanks to a unanimous approval of a policy order by councillors during their meeting March 23. The vote came ahead of Trans Day of Visibility on March 31, and took place against a backdrop of an increasingly hostile national political environment for transgender and gender nonconforming people.
The order requests that the city manager’s office confirm the council can enact an ordinance requiring any new public spaces to have at least one single stall bathroom with gender-neutral signage. Such a policy would affect both city properties and privately-owned spaces with public accommodations, like restaurants and shops.
Multiple residents spoke in favor of the policy order during public comment, saying it is a necessary step to make transgender and gender non-conforming Cantabrigians feel safer.
“I’m grateful to live in a city that declares itself a sanctuary for trans and gender-expansive people, particularly at a moment in history where trans rights and trans lives are under attacks that seem to increase daily,” said Jo Quest-Neubert, a Cambridge resident and Cambridge Public Schools teacher. “And I also know that to truly be a sanctuary, we need to follow up declarations with actions.”
The policy order was initially sponsored by Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, Councillor Marc McGovern, Councillor E. Denise Simmons and Councillor Ayah Al-Zubi. As a demonstration of their support, Councillors Patty Nolan, Tim Flaherty and Vice Mayor Burhan Azeem asked to be added as co-sponsors during the meeting.
“Folks should be able to use a restroom where they feel safe and where they feel comfortable,” said McGovern. “In the climate that we’re in today, where trans folks and non-gender-conforming folks are really under attack across the country, I know we don’t think that necessarily could happen here, but anything can happen anywhere.”
McGovern said that the city was also “late” to adopting a policy that would ensure restrooms are accessible to trans and gender-nonconforming people. Denver and Philadelphia have already done so, as have five states: California, Illinois, New Mexico, New York and Vermont.
If city policy changes, it would not require existing buildings to construct new bathrooms, nor would it require bathrooms with stalls to be gender neutral, McGovern noted.
A visible demonstration
Councillors also approved that city hall be highlighted using the colors of the trans flag (blue, pink, and white) for Transgender Day of Visibility and the week after. Both Cambridge and the state of Massachusetts as a whole have adopted policies to improve the quality of life of transgender and gender nonconforming residents.
The current federal administration, however, has been adamant in its attempts to remove anti-discrimination regulations related to gender identity. During his first two weeks in office, President Donald Trump passed a flurry of executive orders targeted at eliminating federal acknowledgement of genders other than “man” and “woman” and threatening to cut funding for educators and healthcare professionals aiding children in their social or medical transitions.
While the city council has taken the first step toward requiring gender-neutral bathrooms in new buildings, such a policy will not be finalized until the city manager’s office reports back to council on how to proceed.
A stronger
Please consider making a financial contribution to maintain, expand and improve Cambridge Day.
We are now a 501(c)3 nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible.
Please consider a recurring contribution.