Personal Testimonies about Fair & Family Friendly Restrooms — House State, Civic, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee Hearing
3/8/23
We are so grateful for the personal and powerful testimony provided by several, diverse constituents at the Colorado House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee hearing of our 2023 proposed legislation: HB23-1057, or as we refer to it, Fair and Family Friendly Restrooms. This bill passed the committee hearing and is making its way to the Colorado House floor.
Even if you weren’t able to attend in person or tune in live, we don’t want you to miss out on the impactful words and sentiments of the individuals who provided verbal and written testimony, so we asked for the testimony notes to share with you. See a few excerpts from their compelling testimonies below, and read their linked full testimony notes:
“[A] consistent need that we have heard from our community is safe access to restrooms. As you may know, choosing a restroom in public often poses a health and safety risk for transgender people… This severely limits their ability to conduct business and live in a free and just manner... Government buildings should be a model for accessibility and inclusivity, for both employees and community members.” (full testimony here)
-Ruby Lopez (she), Queer & Trans People of Color and Spanish Access Coordinator for Out Boulder County
“CCAT commissioners recognize the importance of providing safe and non-judgmental access to restroom facilities, especially for members of the LGBTQ+ community in Colorado. In addition, CCAT identifies that individuals with little ones using a restroom labeled for males often don't have a safe and convenient place to change a diaper, and supports how this bill will improve access for that. Our members also think this is a reasonable expectation to make of state, county and municipal government.” (full testimony here)
-Thomas Davidson (he), Executive Director of Counties and Commissioners Acting Together (CCAT)
“For years our city has partnered with Out Boulder County to ensure our own public restrooms are inclusive and have been recognized for this work by the Human Rights Campaign as part of their Municipal Equality Index. In March 2020 our City Council amended our building code to require signage on single-user restrooms in the city to indicate that they are open to any user regardless of gender…Although Boulder expects to already be in compliance if this bill is successful, we support its passage as a matter of statewide interest…
Finally, I want to speak from my heart in support. Since I was a teenager I have experienced periodic verbal and physical harassment in public restrooms designated for women due to my gender presentation. To this day I feel safer in restrooms for all-genders. I became motivated to pursue a career in public service to ensure that those who come after me will not have to face the same barriers and threats that I did. I am honored to have the privilege to testify before you today to make my younger self proud.” (full testimony here)
-Pam Davis (she), Assistant City Manager for the City of Boulder
“When my kid was a baby, I took them everywhere. That included court in government buildings. In the back of my mind I always planned for the inevitable diaper change. There weren't a lot of Dads changing diapers in the bathroom back then. I was incredibly relieved whenever I found a changing table in the men's room. Without it, I found myself using my car, a broom closet, or even the city attorney's desk to take care of my baby. If I had to use the bathroom myself, doing so with a baby was a whole other stress…
Fast forward to my life now. My baby is 18 and I support this bill for them. My kid is non-binary... Imagine if you had to schedule your work days around having to leave this building to use a bathroom. My kid has a series of work arounds they use when in public to avoid needing a bathroom, including not drinking water, or just "holding it". People coming into a government building should not have to wonder if there will be a bathroom available to perform basic functions.
Having non gendered family friendly bathrooms would prevent people from the anxiety of wondering if they will have one available. It will prevent families from worrying about a safe clean private place to take care of their family members. It is a necessary change and a small price to pay toward basic human dignity for all Coloradans.” (full testimony here)
-Warren Edson (he), community member and parent of a non-binary child
“I fail to understand why I am asked to make a decision within public buildings that might put me in harm's way. We provide pathways for transgender people to live as their authentic lives and we must continue to support those efforts, giving us the dignity of safety during some of our most vulnerable moments. I desire a government that recognizes me as a human with human needs, designing our society to fit every single member of our community.
I know that this bill will enact a slow change, impacting those who come after us. It’s clear that our persistence will continue to create a state that leads the nation in its ability to support underrepresented communities. As we continue this fight, as we take part in these sessions, as I testify to convince my leaders I deserve safety and dignity; through all of that… I will have to use your restrooms. I just hope that it’s built with me in mind, because my time is better spent here rather than deciding which bathroom to use.” (full testimony here)
-Josie Nixon (all pronouns), community member
“A lack of available restrooms consistent with an individual’s gender identity purposely excludes certain individuals and can put them at risk of harassment, violence, and pose health risks. The Fair and Family Friendly Restrooms Act can help mitigate this cruel harm…
Caretakers and providers have to care for themselves and others. They should not have to concern themselves with the question of where they may be able to properly care for their loved ones while in public. Colorado lawmakers now have an opportunity to remedy this lack of inclusion by passing the Fair and Family Friendly Restrooms Act. The bill would make it clear that all residents of Colorado should access safe facilities is a necessity and not a privilege.” (full testimony here)
-Jannan Abbot, Assistant State Director for American Atheists
“While the majority of people don’t have to think twice about which bathroom they should use, for transgender, non-binary and gender-non-conforming individuals, the experience of using toilets in public or a business premises can be a stressful, nerve-wracking or even dangerous one (Good Night Out Campaign, 2021)...These fears are not unfounded: one in ten respondents reported that someone denied them access to a restroom in the past year, while 12% reported being verbally harassed while accessing a restroom…OSHA mandates that every employee must have access to a bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity.” (full statement here)
-Policy statement from Envision:You
(this statement includes several poignant data points that demonstrate the need for this legislation)
We also want to thank the additional individuals who testified but for whom we do not have written notes to share:
Tonya Briggs (she), City Councilmember for the city of Lafayette
Michael Neil with the Colorado Cross Disability Coalition
Rev. Nicole Garcia (she), Board member for Out Boulder County, Faith Work Director for the National LGBTQ Taskforce