As previously reported, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms won’t be seeking office for another term when the 2022 elections kick off. When she was first elected, Mayor Bottoms made history as only the second Black woman to lead the city often dubbed as the real-life Wakanda. Well, it seems like the mayor wants to continue adding to the magic of the city, by making sure it’s inclusive to all Atlanta residents and visitors. On Wednesday, the mayor signed an administrative order into law that will transform over 100 city-owned restrooms into all-gender use restrooms.
The converted restrooms will be single-occupancy use, which means they’re limited to one person at a time! Single-occupancy restrooms are already widely available, but usually assigned to the male or female gender. Now, approximately 113 restrooms across the city will become available to anyone regardless of their gender, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC).
Each restroom will reportedly have a sign that reads “Anyone can use this restroom, regardless of gender identity or expression.”
As of now, it’s unclear whether the change means a ban on gender-specific restrooms that are single-use. The AJC reports that such bans are in place in cities like New York and Baltimore.
These reassigned restrooms will be available across the city in various facilities. That list includes City Hall, Public Safety Headquarters and the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which is known as the world’s busiest airport.
Prior to the order signing, 11Alive reported that the project costs less than $20,000 and should be completed by June 28th. The date marks the 52nd anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.
“For too long members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) have been subjected to systemic inequities and barriers to opportunity as a result of prejudice and discrimination,” the administrative order from Keisha’s office said.
This isn’t the first time Mayor Bottoms has worked in service of the LGBTQ community. AJC reports that she created “Atlanta’s first-ever full-time LGBTQ Affairs Coordinator” position in 2018. She also works with an LGBTQ Advisory Board to develop policies for the community.