Washington, DC, August 19, 2016–The National LGBTQ Task Force is welcoming a new rule the General Services Administration (GSA) that bans discrimination against transgender people using restrooms that match their gender identity in federal facilities.
“We welcome this enormous step forward on the part of the General Services Administration (GSA). The new rule, which serves as a model for state and local governments, and to private entities, brings federal government facilities and spaces in line with already existing sex discrimination law. According to preliminary data from the U.S. Trans Survey, 59% of trans people have avoided bathrooms in the last year because they feared confrontations in public restrooms, at work, school, or in other places. In fact, 31% have even avoided eating or drinking out of fear of using the bathroom. Because of this rule, more trans people will be treated with dignity and will be less likely to be victims of violence,” said Victoria M. Rodríguez-Roldán, Trans/Gender Nonconforming Justice Project Director, National LGBTQ Task Force.
