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Feds: Transgender Bathroom Choice a Matter of ‘Health and Safety’
Department of Labor tells private sector to base bathrooms on gender identity
Washington Free Beacon
Elizabeth Harrington
6/8/2015
Excerpt:
The Department of Labor (DOL) issued instructions for how private businesses should address a transgender individual who wants to use a different bathroom, arguing that allowing transwomen to use the ladies bathroom is a matter of “health and safety.”
“The core belief underlying these policies is that all employees should be permitted to use the facilities that correspond with their gender identity,” according to the guidance, issued by the DOL’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). “For example, a person who identifies as a man should be permitted to use men’s restrooms, and a person who identifies as a woman should be permitted to use women’s restrooms.”
“The employee should determine the most appropriate and safest option for him- or herself,” the document said.
The DOL said the guidance is necessary since there are 700,000 transgender adults in the United States, or roughly 0.2 percent of the 318.9 million population.
The document instructs businesses to allow all transgender individuals to use the bathroom of their choice, even if they have only decided to change their name.
“Transitioning is a different process for everyone—it may involve social changes (such as going by a new first name), medical steps, and changing identification documents,” the guidance said.
“Under these best practices, employees are not asked to provide any medical or legal documentation of their gender identity in order to have access to gender-appropriate facilities,” the agency added.
The DOL said allowing a man to use the ladies restroom because he self-identifies as a woman is a matter of “health and safety.”
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View the complete article at:
http://freebeacon.com/issues/feds-tr...th-and-safety/
Department of Labor tells private sector to base bathrooms on gender identity
Washington Free Beacon
Elizabeth Harrington
6/8/2015
Excerpt:
The Department of Labor (DOL) issued instructions for how private businesses should address a transgender individual who wants to use a different bathroom, arguing that allowing transwomen to use the ladies bathroom is a matter of “health and safety.”
“The core belief underlying these policies is that all employees should be permitted to use the facilities that correspond with their gender identity,” according to the guidance, issued by the DOL’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). “For example, a person who identifies as a man should be permitted to use men’s restrooms, and a person who identifies as a woman should be permitted to use women’s restrooms.”
“The employee should determine the most appropriate and safest option for him- or herself,” the document said.
The DOL said the guidance is necessary since there are 700,000 transgender adults in the United States, or roughly 0.2 percent of the 318.9 million population.
The document instructs businesses to allow all transgender individuals to use the bathroom of their choice, even if they have only decided to change their name.
“Transitioning is a different process for everyone—it may involve social changes (such as going by a new first name), medical steps, and changing identification documents,” the guidance said.
“Under these best practices, employees are not asked to provide any medical or legal documentation of their gender identity in order to have access to gender-appropriate facilities,” the agency added.
The DOL said allowing a man to use the ladies restroom because he self-identifies as a woman is a matter of “health and safety.”
................................................
View the complete article at:
http://freebeacon.com/issues/feds-tr...th-and-safety/