DC Queer Alliance

Our friends over at the DC Trans Coalition wanted us to share news about their latest campaign...

Washington, DC – On Friday, July 3rd, the DC Trans Coalition (DCTC) along with the DC Office of Human Rights (OHR) launched the Bathroom Access and Safety Campaign, otherwise known as the Pee in Peace Campaign – a community mobilization project designed to ensure bathroom access and safety for all residents, including transgender, transsexual and gender non-conforming individuals, in the District.

Even with the District’s comprehensive Human Rights Act, which includes protections for gender identity or expression, trans and gender non-conforming people continue to experience verbal and physical harassment ranging from being attacked and thrown out to even being arrested for simply trying to use the bathroom in the District. In fact, according to a recent citywide survey for transgender and gender non-conforming people, 70 percent of respondents indicated that they had experienced problems accessing or using gender segregated bathrooms.

“Since its founding in 2005, the DCTC has organized community members to fight for the human rights of and equal access for trans and gender non-conforming people living in the District of Columbia. The Bathroom Access and Safety Campaign carries on this commitment, ensuring that the District’s laws are appropriately enforced, making certain that trans and gender non-conforming residents have equal access and appropriate safety when using restroom facilities along with other public accommodations,” said Sadie Baker, a member of the DCTC.

Regulations accompanying the Human Rights Act clarify that all residents have the right to use a bathroom consistent with their gender identity or expression, regardless of real or perceived assigned sex or gender expression. The regulations also specify that all single occupancy restrooms (i.e., any restroom intended for use by one person at a time) in any public or commercial space, like a restaurant, should use gender neutral signage only. For example, signs reading “Men” and “Women” must be replaced with signs that read “Restroom,” or another non-gendered label.

“Despite these regulations, many businesses all over DC are not in compliance with the law, which is why we created this campaign. We are developing a list of all non-compliant businesses throughout DC so that we can inform the Office of Human Rights. OHR Director Velasquez has agreed to help by sending all the businesses we identify a letter informing them of the Human Rights Act and what they need to do in order to be compliant. The businesses will then have 30 days to change their signs, at which point we will check back. It is our hope that all business will comply with OHR’s request. If they do not, we will report them to city officials who will initiate a discrimination complaint,” said Jody Herman, a member of the DCTC.

The DCTC and OHR have asked that community members help by identifying restaurants, cafes or any other public or commercial spaces that are not in compliance with the law. Residents should send the name of the business, the address and the date they noticed the establishment violating the law to DCTCBathrooms@gmail.com, or call (202) 557-1951. On Saturday, July 25th, the group will host a rally in support of bathroom safety and access at 2 pm in Adams Morgan (18th Street and Columbia). All concerned residents are urged to join in this effort to ensure appropriate enforcement of the law. For more information about the Bathroom Access and Safety Campaign, check out the DCTC website at www.dctranscoalition.org under the heading “Campaigns.”


The DC Trans Coalition (DCTC) is a grassroots community-based organization dedicated to fighting for the human rights of and equal access for transgender and gender non-conforming people in the District of Columbia.

The DC Queer Alliance invites you to Just One of the Guys: Trans Men's Inclusion, Advocacy and Empowerment Within the Gay, Bi, and Queer Men's Health Movement. This event takes place Wednesday June 10th at Whitman Walker Clinic, 1701 14th St, NW starting at 7:00 PM.

Do you care about gay, bi, and queer trans men's health? So do we. Join us in putting together the District's first community meeting discussing the inclusion, advocacy, and empowerment of gay, bi, & queer trans men within the greater gay, bi, & queer men's health movement.

In early 2009, several trans and non-trans guys came together to form the DC Queer Alliance with the common goal of organizing quarterly, community-led events for both trans and non-trans gay, bi and queer men to talk about our commonalities and debunk the many myths that surround us and our communities.

Our group is community-led and driven - there is no leader or political agenda. We simply want to build a stronger community by encouraging healthy dialogue on issues that impact all of our lives - issues like accessing competent healthcare, body image, forced outings, navigating bathrooms, cruising, mental health and wellness along with partner and relationship issues.

To find out more, write to dcqueeralliance at gmail dot com.