Amsterdam city hall to get gender neutral toilets

The city of Amsterdam is following Utrecht's example and turning the toilets in its city hall "gender neutral". A majority of the Amsterdam city council supported the SP's call to do so, Het Parool reports. The SP called on the municipality to add gender neutral toilets, in addition to the traditional male and female toilets, to the city hall, the so called Stopera. The aim with these gender neutral toilets is to eliminate discomfort in using public facilities, especially among transgender people who do not feel comfortable as either male or female. "We receive signals that this is a problem for transgender people", SP councilor Nelly Duijndam said to the newspaper. The proposal was supported by the D66 and PvdA. According to Corine van Dun of Transgender Network Netherlands, gender neutral toilets are especially important to people still in the transition from male to female, or other way around. "They're already following treatments, dress differently and want to go to the bathroom that matches their new identity. Then they sometimes get strange looks or are told to go away." The governing committee of Nieuw-West also submitted a proposal calling on the Amsterdam council to put gender neutral toilets in public buildings, starting with the Nieuw West district office. "The goal is that all Amsterdammers can use the toilet without inconveniences", PvdA committee member Munire Manisa said to the newspaper.