New hospital set to include gender-neutral washrooms
Deputy health minister says third bathroom will be for those not comfortable using men's or women's washrooms
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Friday, April 22, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Those who feel uncomfortable using men's or women's public washrooms will likely have a third option once the new hospital opens its doors.
There will likely be gender-neutral washrooms at the new Stanton Territorial Hospital, according to deputy health minister Debbie DeLancey. She says the washrooms will be for anyone who does not feel comfortable or safe using a men's or a women's washroom. - NNSL file photo illustration |
The territorial government is planning to install gender-neutral washrooms alongside gendered facilities at the new Stanton Territorial Hospital, according to Debbie DeLancey, deputy minister of the Department of Health and Social Services.
The news comes as DeLancey was discussing her department's plans to make its services more supportive of the territory's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community.
"In the planning for the new Stanton hospital we have already considered this issue. We have already given direction or set in the program parameters ... that likely it will require three washrooms," DeLancey said.
For reasons of personal safety some people feel that a washroom other than a men's or women's is necessary, she said.
"We have incorporated some of this emerging awareness into the design for the Stanton hospital. With respect to existing facilities - I don't think that will happen in the near future. It hasn't been flagged as an issue by anyone in my department."
DeLancey said she wasn't sure at this point what the sign on that third washroom door would read.
"I can't answer that but it is something I'll need to look into," she said. "I'm not going to say it is (for trangender people). That third washroom could be for anybody."
DeLancey agreed the washroom would be a safe option for people who are worried about having their safety or being bullied. She added she believes there are other new hospitals elsewhere in Canada that constructed similar washrooms. DeLancey said her department will be researching and checking those models to see which ones are working best and incorporate best practices in addressing the issue moving forward.
DeLancey moderated a public discussion on April 13 in which she listened to members of the city's LGBTQ community and their concerns about discrimination, harassment, homophobia and bullying when they tried to access the health-care system. The event was hosted by It Gets Better Yellowknife - an organization dedicated to making the city safer and more equitable for LGBTQ youth.
Nicole Garbutt, the group's co-chair, said the three washroom idea is amazing.
"Washrooms are the scariest places. They are the most unsafe space for queer people. So to have a gender-neutral or non-designated washroom space that people can use is absolutely necessary," Garbutt said.
"For people who are accessing health care and for people who are potentially already in a place of trauma or already at a physical or mental-health disadvantage - it's extremely important."
However, Garbutt said that there is one drawback to the third washroom idea.
"Having a third washroom or an alternative washroom as opposed to gender-neutral washrooms (instead of men's and women's washrooms) is that it still isolates people and has the potential to out somebody," Garbutt said.
"If somebody sees an individual going into this non-boy's or girl's washroom - maybe they have the potential to question why they are using it. If someone is not out ... it could put them at risk."
It is not clear exactly how many alternative washrooms are planned for the new facility. Construction of the new hospital is to be completed by late 2018 and open sometime in 2019.
