NYC Council votes for gender-neutral restrooms

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York City Council has approved a bill that would require all single-occupant restrooms to become gender neutral.

The Council voted 47 to 2 on Tuesday in favor of the legislation, which Mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to sign.

It would apply to bars, restaurants and other businesses throughout the city.

In March, de Blasio signed an executive order requiring city-owned buildings guarantee all individuals — including those who are transgender or gender non-conforming — access to single-sex facilities consistent with their gender identity.

The bill requires that "men" and "women" signs on single-stall restrooms be replaced with ones indicating they are unisex. The signs must be in place by Jan. 1.

Officials say an estimated 25,000 transgender or gender non-conforming people live in New York City.

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The Gayly - 6/22/2016 @ 10:24 a.m. CDT