Patrick McGreevy, In show of support for transgender people, Assembly acts to make single-user restrooms gender-neutral

As other states restrict the ability of transgender people to choose which bathrooms to use, the California Assembly on Monday voted to make single-user restrooms in public and government buildings “all gender,” so that anyone can use any restroom.

Lawmakers also took initial action to prohibit taxpayer-funded travel to states whose policies are viewed as discriminatory to the transgender community.

Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) said his measure would make restrooms more convenient for women and for transgender Californians who may identify as a woman and feel uncomfortable using a restroom designated for men, and vice versa.

“While other states are making it tougher and more political to use the bathroom, today we can make it easier for everyone to use the bathroom by simply changing the sign on the door and allowing anyone to use it,” Ting said. “Today, let’s take the politics out of bathrooms and bring back common sense.”

The measure passed on a 52-18 vote after some Republicans objected to the change.

Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) said there is no problem with the status quo because people of any gender can currently use single-user restrooms. He said women will not want to use restrooms where men leave behind urine-stained toilet seats.

“We’re going to inconvenience a lot more people by doing this where right now under the status quo there is no inconvenience,” Gallagher said during the floor debate. “No woman wants to use the bathroom after many men have been in that same bathroom. As hard as we try, men, you know that your aim is not always that good.”

Assemblywoman Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton), who supported the bill, rejected Gallagher’s argument.

“I don’t think that because your aim is bad that makes you any kind of special category where you must have your own bathroom,” Eggman said.