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Legislation Introduced To Make Single-Person Bathrooms Gender Neutral In NYC

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Aiming to curb gender bias and harassment in New York City, officials are readying a plan that would require businesses to convert one-person restrooms into gender-neutral facilities.

Legislation is being introduced that would require publicly available, single-occupancy restrooms in both public and private buildings to be designated as gender-neutral.

It would also amend the language of some city laws, including the plumbing code, which requires separate lavatories for men and women.

"We must look to help trans-gender individuals who quite frankly, have fears," New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer told WCBS 880's Ginny Kosola.

``This is a very important issue,'' said New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, whose office is releasing a report Friday recommending the changes. ``It's time to help individuals who identify as transgender to use the bathroom without fear of consequence.''

Legislation Introduced To Make Single-Person Bathrooms Gender Neutral In NYC

The law would require businesses to place new signage on existing restrooms to identify them as gender-neutral. It would not apply to lavatories with multiple fixtures.

``We're not talking about constructing new bathrooms or spending any money, except basically purchasing a sign,'' Stringer said. ``Just putting a sign on an existing bathroom will go a long way to reducing discrimination.''

Queens City Councilman Daniel Dromm (D-25th) will introduce the legislation, Kosola reported.

New York's proposal follows similar laws enacted over the last decade in municipalities across the country, including Philadelphia, West Hollywood and the District of Columbia.

Eoghann Renfroe, the manager of transgender education and advocacy at the Empire State Pride Agenda, said Friday that Stringer's proposal was needed in New York and was a common-sense approach to tackling one avenue of harassment.

``Being transgender, it's not about the bathrooms. It's that other people try to make it that way,'' said Renfroe, a transgender man. ``This step is simply just a way to make things more equal for everybody, to stop transgender people on a basis that doesn't really exist.''

Renfroe says he has experienced discrimination when trying to use public restrooms.

``I've been aware that it would not be safe for me to access the facilities appropriate for my gender,'' he said. ``So having a space where a basic necessity of the body, where we can actually go and do that without fear of being assaulted, is pretty important.''

Calls to The Building Owners and Managers Association International, which represents commercial property owners and managers, and to the New York State Restaurant Association were not immediately returned.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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