By Jeni Marinucci
Restaurant owners and their staff encounter situations daily which call upon them to show discretion, understanding, and respect to patrons – and it’s not always easy, as anyone who’s dealt with an intoxicated or irate customer can attest to. But in today’s climate, even the seemingly simple act of using the restroom facilities has the potential to become a contentious issue in the hospitality industry. For the trans community, simply using the bathroom has become an event with possible consequences for both patrons and business owners.
Reports of restaurant staff physically preventing trans customers from using the washroom of their preference have been documented, as well as the vocal protests and picketing by private citizens at the locations which have done so. The Globe and Mail reports on some recent occurrences at Canadian restaurants:
In November, a staff member at a Montreal restaurant tried to bar a transgender woman from using the ladies room. Earlier in the year, another transgender woman faced the same treatment at a Medicine Hat bar – staff even posted a sign that warned patrons: “You must use the bathroom of your birth gender.” Both events kicked off an angry backlash online, and in one case led to picketing of the restaurant by several transgender activists.
Offering a third “all gender” washroom as a possible alternative is often the solution, but many restaurants lack the space or ability to do so. Building codes, infrastructure, and budgetary constraints don’t always make this an easy solve. In the place of a third restroom facility, some creative alternatives abound, such as the one the CNE embraced last year: individual, self-contained toilets, for example, with a simple stick figure wearing a half-skirt, half pant and a caption that reads, “We don’t care.”
While American “bathroom bills” (which prevent transgender individuals from using the bathroom they feel most comfortable with) have yet to make their way to Canada, the issue of what to do remains one of importance. Rob Turpin is the general manager of Vancouver pub Score on Davie, and he tells The Globe and Mail that for his establishment, unisex bathrooms have been an easy solution: “It’s something we’ve done for years,” he said, adding that the communal bathroom at Score on Davie has been successful. “We’ve created a safe haven,” Turpin says.
Safety and comfort are chief among the concerns of restaurant owners, and by outlining expectations regarding restroom use to staff, through training and the availability of accessible facilities, these objectives are certainly deliverable. With that in place, everyone is keep safe – and satisfied.
