Inclusion Upgrades

Devin-Norelle, a gender-fluid trans activist and writer who lives in New York, told the Daily Beast, “In general, I hate using the restroom because I’m such a feminine- or androgynous-looking person, I get a lot of looks. There was a time where I was very concerned about my own safety…I’m putting myself at risk when I’m walking into the men’s restroom and I’m putting myself at risk when I’m walking into the women’s restroom.”

These are very real concerns facing many of our LGBTQI friends.  As a result, the Administrative Council voted at the last meeting to update all the restrooms in the church to “Gender Neutral” restrooms.  This is just one small way that we can continue on our path to being a progressive and inclusive church.  By making our restrooms Gender Neutral, we are telling our building users that we accept you for who you are and you should feel free to be yourself. 

Over the next few weeks you will see the signs and there will be some minor upgrades to the restrooms themselves, however for the most part there will be no change.  The bathrooms will remain single use and will have locks on the doors for the privacy of everyone.

Sofia Nelson, an attorney practicing in Detroit, Michigan told The Daily Beast, “We’re just talking about people – who could be your child, your friend, or your co-worker – wanting to do something super basic that we all have to do: use the bathroom.”

This is all we want to do too.