A McDonald's restaurant in Washington is upholding the state's non-discrimination policies with a letter, originally written in 2006, reminding customers and employees that they are free to use the restroom that corresponds with their gender identity. The letter reads:
We believe all people must have access to safe and dignified bathroom facilities regardless of their gender identity or expression. Therefore, the following policy has been adopted for this restaurant at 1530 3rd Avenue. Employees and customers may use any restroom that corresponds with and is based upon the gender identity they publicly and exclusively assert or express.
This letter stands in contrast to the recent story of Ally Robledo, a transgender woman in Idaho who was banned from her local grocery store for using the women's restroom. According to the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, 53% of transgender people report having been harassed or disrespected in a place of public accommodation.
GLAAD urges businesses and places of public accommodation everywhere to support the safety of transgender people by adopting polices that create equal access for transgender people, and we thank the management of this McDonald's for standing up for their transgender customers.