San Francisco eyes all-gender diaper stations

San Francisco is trying to make it easier for parents to find a public restroom with a changing diaper station.

Under a proposed ordinance by Supervisor Katy Tang, all city buildings accessible by the public, must have a changing diaper station in both the women’s and men’s restrooms or install a changing diaper station that is available for all genders.

The ordinance would also amend the police code for businesses that already provide a diaper changing station in the women’s restrooms to also provide one inside the men’s restroom or to changing table accessible for all genders.

Businesses would have 12 months to comply and The City’s Department of Building Inspection would enforce the ordinance under the proposal.

At the Board of Supervisors Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee on Wednesday, Dyanna Quizon, a legislative aide for Tang, said the proposed ordinance was inspired by a federal law called the “Bathrooms Accessible in Every Situation,” signed by former President Barack Obama on Oct. 7, 2016:

“In 2005, the Board of Supervisors required new and substantially renovated buildings to install baby changing accommodations, but we thought we could do more based on what the federal government had done.”

The federal law required restrooms in federal buildings to provide diaper changing stations for both female and male restrooms:

Quizon added:

“We want to make sure that we get the word out that we ensure that all parents have access to the tools to properly take care of their children and get rid of this mindset that only one gender is in change of taking care of their children.”

The board committee moved the proposed legislation with a positive recommendation and now heads to the full Board of Supervisors for a vote next Tuesday.

Jerold Chinn

Jerold serves as a reporter and San Francisco Bureau Chief for SFBay covering transportation and occasionally City Hall and the Mayor's Office in San Francisco. His work on transportation has been recognized by the San Francisco Press Club. Born and raised in San Francisco, he graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism. Jerold previously wrote for the San Francisco Public Press, a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization. When not reporting, you can find Jerold taking Muni to check out new places to eat in the city.