News (USA)

Chicago ordinance gives transgender people bathroom rights

Chicago ordinance gives transgender people bathroom rights

CHICAGO (AP) — Transgender people in Chicago will be able to use a public bathroom that corresponds to their gender identity under an ordinance passed by the city’s aldermen.

Aldermen approved the change in Chicago’s human rights ordinance Wednesday. Mayor Rahm Emanuel says it closes a legal loophole that could “inadvertently” allow restaurants, hotels and other “public accommodations” to discriminate against transgender people.

Before Wednesday’s action, the ordinance, among the first in the nation that included gender identity as a protected class, exempted bathrooms. It required people to use the bathroom matching the sex on their government-issued identification.

The CEO of gay rights group Equality Illinois, Brian Johnson, says the ordinance is about more than public accommodations. It is in his words “about standing up for the dignity of all Chicagoans.”

© 2016, Associated Press, All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Don't forget to share:

Support vital LGBTQ+ journalism

Reader contributions help keep LGBTQ Nation free, so that queer people get the news they need, with stories that mainstream media often leaves out. Can you contribute today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

First openly gay Miss Missouri crowned

Previous article

Utah school board: We’ll give up $40M if we can harass trans students

Next article