One of the issues upon which Barack Obama wanted to have a direct impact during his time as president was that of gender discrimination in public places, as well as the workplace.
Obama felt so strongly about the issue that he initiated an executive order effectively banning discrimination on the basis of gender, a subject which has much controversy surrounding it.
As such, the seat of decisions, the White House, has just opened its first gender-neutral bathroom located in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
White House spokesman Jeff Tiller told reporters that the new gender-neutral facilities are reflective of the current administration’s stance on LGBT issues.
“The White House allows staff and guests to use restrooms consistent with their gender identity, which is in keeping with the administration’s existing legal guidance on this issue and consistent with what is required by the executive order that took effect today for federal contractors.”
Tiller’s comments follow the suggestion for the new bathroom initiative at the White House from Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to the president.
Jarrett wrote in an op-ed piece , “We have closely examined our internal policies on everything from benefits, to restroom access, to how we invite people to events, to ensure that everyone who enters this building feels safe and fully respected.”
When President Obama announced his executive order last year, he said, “Our government will become just a little bit fairer. I will sign an executive order that does two things. First, the federal government already prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Once I sign this order, the same will be explicitly true for gender identity. And second, we’re going to prohibit all companies that receive a contract from the federal government from discriminating against their LGBT employees. America’s federal contracts should not subsidize discrimination against the American people.”
It remains to be seen whether the gender-neutral bathrooms will be rolled out throughout the rest of the White House. If they are, what will happen to them if a Republican president replaces Barack Obama ?
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