Photo Credit: GLAAD

Today, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is signing an executive order requiring all city agencies to ensure that their employees and members of the public have access to bathrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identity or expression. The executive order stipulates that no one will be required to show identification, medical documents, or any other documentation to verify their gender.

“No one should have to face fear, intimidation, or harassment when simply trying to use the bathroom,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, President & CEO of GLAAD. “New York City is once again leading by example, making sure that every person can go to the restroom with dignity and peace. GLAAD applauds Mayor de Blasio’s ongoing commitment to protecting LGBT New Yorkers, which is raising the bar for inclusion in cities across the nation.”

City agencies are required to post this new policy on sex-segregated facilities in conspicuous locations for employees and members of the public to see within three months. The executive order also includes training requirements for city agency managers and frontline staff.

A bill that is pending before the city council would require public single-occupancy restrooms in both public and private buildings to be gender-neutral. New York City Human Rights Law has included protections based on gender identity and expression since 2002, and recent enforcement guidance issued by the NYC Commission on Human Rights states that denying access to bathrooms and other facilities based on gender identity is a violation of NYC Human Rights law.