Berlin’s justice ministry has announced that it wants to make the city more accessible to its transgender and intersex community by ensuring the bathrooms in government buildings are unisex.
According to an audit by the ministry, the cost of converting existing bathroom facilities would be “at a maximum, around €500” and that in some cases, this would simply involve new signage, the Local reports.
Justice Minister Dirk Behrendt told Tagesspiegel that the implementation would reduce discrimination against trans and intersex people and would help avoid a “culture war” like the one playing out in the United States.
“The building scan showed that having toilets for all sexes in many places would be simple to implement,” the minister said.
“In trains and airplanes, the toilets are also not separated by sex, and that doesn’t bother anyone,” he added.
In May, Canada's High Commission installed gender neutral bathrooms at Canada House in London to make sure transgender and intersex visitors are welcomed.
Last month, Dublin City University unveiled 54 new gender-neutral bathrooms across three campuses to foster greater inclusiveness.
