CAO Message: Gender and Use of Restrooms at County Facilities

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A message from Chief Administrative Officer Helen Robbins-Meyer:

County colleagues,

At a County-hosted Pride event earlier this summer, one topic that came up concerned gender-neutral restrooms at County facilities – those for employees and for the public.

Specifically: What are we doing to make people aware of policies around restroom usage? And what are we doing when it comes to building design?

It was not the first conversation the County has had around this aspect of inclusivity. But it prompted me to address the topic with all of you.   

Let’s start with where we are. We have nearly 1,700 restrooms at County-owned and -leased facilities, serving both the public and employees. These include 782 gender-neutral restrooms and 901 restrooms designated for women or men.  

Under federal, state and local law, people can choose a restroom based on their gender identity or gender expression, or use a restroom identified as all-gender.

To be clear: County employees and visitors to County facilities are welcome to use the restroom facilities that most closely align with their gender identity or gender expression. No questions asked. 

But there is more we need to do to increase access at our facilities. So I have directed the Department of General Services to take these steps:

  • Review, revise, or establish County policies related to restroom access.

  • Socialize current and any new guidelines.

  • Determine the feasibility of pilot construction projects to increase gender-neutral or universal restrooms within existing facilities.

  • Study the feasibility of incorporating gender-neutral or universal restrooms into new construction design standards.

Since community is always at the heart of our work, community outreach including employee engagement will be a key component of these efforts.   

I want to thank the County staff that put together the event that led to my message today: members of our LGBTQ & Allies Employee Resource Group; Human Resources’ Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Team; and the Planning and Development Services D&I committee. It included a talk by San Diego Pride’s executive director, Fernando Zweifach López Jr., and a panel discussion with LGBTQIA+ County employees. Watch a recording.

Two principles emerged from that discussion. Equity requires intentional consideration. And our workforce is one of our biggest assets.  

Those principles shaped what I’ve shared here. We will best serve our residents when all our employees feel a sense of belonging, and I believe these steps will move us toward that vision.