The Boynton Beach City Commission voted unanimously April 21 to designate single-occupancy restrooms in all city-owned properties as “Gender Neutral” making it only the fourth Florida city to do so.
“Boynton Beach will be the first municipality in Palm Beach County to have gender neutral restrooms in all municipal properties,” said Boynton Beach City Commissioner Ty Penserga. “Designating restrooms as all gender not only benefits people who do not identify as male or female, but also makes it easier for parents and caregivers to assist their oppposite sex children, family members, and patients.”
Penserga raised the discussion with the city commission after a request from the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council (PBCHRC).
The policy will also apply to the city’s Town Square Project, which is expected to open this summer. The 16-acre, $133 million redevelopment project will include the new city hall, library, police station, a fire station, a cultural center, amphitheater and hotel as well as thousands of square feet in retail space.
“Boynton Beach fosters an environment that values diversity,” said PBCHRC Board Member Rhonda Williams. “The designation of all gender restrooms will result in less hassle for people who don’t fit neatly into some people’s expectations of what it looks like to be male or female.”
The PBCHRC has also sent a request for gender neutral, public restrooms to the Palm Beach County Commission. The request will be considered later this year.
Boynton Beach joins Orlando, Gainesville and Miami Beach in the state and the cities of Austin, Chicago, Denver, Hobokon, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Sante Fe, Seattle and D.C. nationwide in enacting a gender neutral restroom policy. Vermont, New Mexico, Illinois and California have all enacted similar statewide policies.
