Greater than 100 city bathrooms in Atlanta are to be designated as all-gender-use

By UMass Mag On Jun 19, 2021

As previously reported, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms will not run for another term at the start of the 2022 election. When she was first elected, Mayor Bottom wrote his story as only the second Black woman to run the city often referred to as the real Wakanda. Well, it seems like the mayor wants to further enhance the magic of the city by making sure it’s inclusive for all Atlanta residents and visitors. On Wednesday, the mayor signed an administrative ordinance that will convert over 100 city-owned toilets into gender-sensitive toilets.

The converted toilets are only used for one person, which means they are limited to one person at a time! Single place toilets are already widespread, but are mostly assigned to the male or female gender. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC), there will now be about 113 toilets across the city for everyone regardless of gender.

According to reports, every toilet will have a sign that reads “Anyone can use this toilet, regardless of gender or facial expression.”

It is currently unclear whether the change will mean a ban on single-use gender-specific toilets. The AJC reports that such bans are in place in cities like New York and Baltimore.

These reassigned toilets will be available in various facilities across the city. This list includes City Hall, Public Safety Headquarters, and the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, known as the world’s busiest airport.

Before signing the order, 11Alive reported that the project will cost less than $ 20,000 and be completed by June 28. The date marks the 52nd anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.

“For too long, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) groups have been exposed to systemic injustices and barriers to opportunity due to prejudice and discrimination,” said the administrative order from Keisha’s office.

This isn’t the first time Mayor Bottoms has been serving the LGBTQ community. AJC reports that in 2018 she created the position of Atlanta’s first full-time LGBTQ coordinator. She also works with an LGBTQ advisory board to develop guidelines for the community.