From the Chair: November 2015

By Peter Coyl

The subject of bathrooms has been in the news quite a bit here in Texas.  It started a few months ago in the wind up to the election because of a contested ballot measure (the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance or HERO which would have banned discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity).  Opponents made it out to be about using restrooms but really that just happened to be an easy scapegoat and unfortunately HERO failed.  It has, however, led to conversations about what gender-neutral restrooms are and how best we can serve our library customers.

We have a duty to help our customers feel welcomed in the library.  We can do that by making sure we have broad and diverse collections (we can’t have a book that represents everyone but we can do our best).  We can also do that by making sure customers have a safe place to use the restroom.
 
Libraries nationwide are recognizing the need for more inclusive restrooms which lead to last months American Libraries article “Libraries create Gender-Neutral Bathrooms” by Megan Cottrell.  The author asked a number of Librarians (including myself) about the issue.  This article can be a good starting point for library staff and directors to begin a conversation with supervisors and library boards about the need for gender neutral restrooms, and the varying ways they can be designed to meet the needs of your staff and community.
 
The GLBTRT Resource Committee has developed a brochure “Gender Neutral Bathrooms in Libraries” which is available on our Professional Tools resource page under “Facilities”.  This brochure can also be a resource for librarians and libraries of all sizes and types.  Not every library can have gender neutral restrooms, but you can adopt policies protecting transgender library customers, or simply have a restroom with no gender label needed.  The brochure offers some information on these topics.
I should also mention that ALA has been very responsive to the GLBTRT request for gender neutral restrooms at all division conferences.  We have worked to critique the signage and increase the availability of these facilities at our conference locations.  We are trying hard to make sure we represent all of the members of GLBTRT the best we can.
We are looking forward to seeing many of you at ALA Midwinter Meeting in Boston.  We are excited for the announcement of the Stonewall Book Awards and the release of the Rainbow Book Lists and Over the Rainbow Book lists.  We hope many of you will be able to join us at our social on SundayJanuary 10th from 6-8pm [location to be announced soon, we are waiting on final approval of the contract by ALA].
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