Salmon Arm council voted unanimously to work towards having non-gendered washrooms in the city.

Coun. Sylvia Lindgren introduced a motion May 9 that proposed the city work at making all its single-stall washrooms non-gendered.

Staff noted the city has about 43 washrooms it is responsible for, 26 of which are single stall. The signage on those could be changed.

害羞草研究所淪ome of the change room areas like in Blackburn, it害羞草研究所檚 a little more difficult with those ones because they have multiple fixtures. Same with Little Mountain Fieldhouse; Canoe Beach is another example where there are two washrooms with multiple fixtures and change rooms so they really should be specific (regarding gender),害羞草研究所� said Rob Niewenhuizen, director of engineering and public works.

Lindgren害羞草研究所檚 motion noted it is recognized that 害羞草研究所済ender is not binary and may occur on a spectrum and may be fluid.害羞草研究所�

It said discrimination based on gender 害羞草研究所渋s harmful to the mental and physical health of non-binary, transgender, two spirit, gay, lesbian, and gender fluid individuals causing an increased risk of self-harm, suicide, depression and body shame than cisgender individuals.害羞草研究所�

It continued: 害羞草研究所渁ccess to a safe, gender appropriate washroom is a basic human need inherent to a person害羞草研究所檚 dignity.害羞草研究所�

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Lindgren explained that about a year ago she saw a TED Talk by Emily Quinn who discovered at the age of 10, though she presented as a female and was treated as a female, she was actually intersex.

害羞草研究所淭he video is incredibly good to explain the idea of gender being on a spectrum. And like most human attributes such as eye colour, and hair colour and personality and height and weight, they害羞草研究所檙e all on a spectrum and there are not just two options,害羞草研究所� Lindgren said.

She pointed out a number of cultures around the world recognize there are more than two sex identities, 害羞草研究所渁nd gender identity is tied closely to that, and so this is a really important area.害羞草研究所�

It would be easy to change the signage on the single-stall washrooms and it would ensure people who don害羞草研究所檛 fall into the two poles, female and male, have a safe place to go to the washroom, she said.

害羞草研究所淎nd that害羞草研究所檚 a pretty basic thing to be able to offer to people.害羞草研究所�

She outlined her hope that all the city washrooms in Salmon Arm become non-gendered at some point, but she said the single-stall facilities are a good place to start.

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Other councillors voiced their support.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 a 61-year-old grey-haired guy; it害羞草研究所檚 not something I ever thought of, but I do believe this motion is worthy of supporting and direct staff to start working on the ones (washrooms) that can be changed,害羞草研究所� said Coun. Kevin Flynn.

Coun. Tim Lavery added he heard Ivan Coyote give a moving and important presentation on the topic. Coyote is an author, film producer, stage performer and more who often focuses on issues of gender identity.

害羞草研究所淚 think the key words, 害羞草研究所榳ork towards害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所榮ingle stall,害羞草研究所� are what害羞草研究所檚 important here,害羞草研究所� said Lavery. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e always appreciated the intent is that those who can decrease their anxiety and their comfort level to pee in peace. This does that, it害羞草研究所檚 important to do that, and it is a basic need and we need to support this where we can.害羞草研究所�