THUNDER BAY – NEWS – Local LGBTQ+ Youth Group The Other 10% announced today that it is launching its new initiative, the All Genders Washroom Project in Thunder Bay. The Other 10% has been reaching out to key partners across the city to increase the number of safer washrooms for the public to access, with the support of a Youth4Community Grant from the United Way of Thunder Bay.
The Other 10% expect the All Genders Washroom Project to increase the safety for everyone in the city in gendered spaces such as washrooms, change rooms, treatment facilities, dormitories and gyms. In addition to recruiting partners and increasing the number of All Gender Washrooms in the city, the group is creating a map of safer washrooms, which is available on their website: other10percent.ca/projects/all-genders-washroom/
The project is an effort to address the risk of bullying and violence faced by people who are judged as not expressing their gender as typically male or female. For an important number of people, every time a choice has to be made between using either male or female facilities, it is a stressful choice. The safest type of washroom is a single stall facility with a lockable door, and many buildings have at least one of these washrooms available. One of the best things about creating an All Genders Washroom is that often the infrastructure already exists, and it’s really just a matter of changing the signage on already existing washrooms and increasing the awareness of staff and patrons.
About the Other 10% LGBTQ+ Youth Group
The Other 10% is a drop-in group for young people between the ages of 12 and 25 years old who identify as LGBTQ+ and Questioning. They have been meeting bi-weekly for the last three years, and make decisions about projects collectively. The group is supported by Children’s Centre Thunder Bay, NorWest Community Health Centres, and through the sponsorship of many community partners. The Youth4Community Grant was awarded to The Other 10% by the United Way of Thunder Bay.
