Cathedral City introduces gender-neutral bathrooms

Some of the restrooms at City Hall in Cathedral City are now gender-neutral.

It’s all a part of a citywide ordinance working to make the city more inclusive.

Cathedral City is one of just two cities to make the change.

“The ordinance that’s passed basically says any organization in the city, including city buildings and businesses, that have single-stall bathrooms are being asked to change the signage so that it’s not longer designated a male or female bathroom,” said Councilman Shelly Kaplan.

The gender-neutral bathrooms are the first in the valley.

Thomi Clinton is the voice behind the change.

She said for transgender people public restrooms are where they often face the most discrimination.

“This opens up the opportunity for people to start transitioning and avoid violence and harassment,” Clinton said.

Soon all single-stall bathrooms in the city will have signs with both men and women on them.

For businesses it’s not a costly change.

“You can buy signs that would make the change that would cost $15 to $50 and the city is looking to start a grant program if they need funds in order to do that,” Kaplan said.

Clinton said this is a good change for everyone.

“People who have belief systems that don’t approve of trans or LGBT people, that’s OK too, because now they’re not being confronted with that,” Clinton said.

Other people we spoke with agree.

“It shouldn’t really matter. It’s a basic human need. Everyone does it. Who cares where you do it?” said Geovanni Balleza who lives in Palm Springs.

Clinton said Palm Springs is already researching the ordinance and Desert Hot Springs is looking into it as well.

As for other cities — West Hollywood is the first in California to pass a law requiring gender-neutral restrooms.

Austin, Texas, enacted one last year, and the Philadelphia City Council passed a law in 2013.