New Bathroom Ordinance (Gender Neutral)
This post was published September 2023
Georgia’s plumbing codes are drawn from the model International Plumbing Code, published from time to time with the latest edition being the 2021 International Plumbing Code. The 2021 edition will be up for consideration and adoption in Georgia in the near future. In Section 403.2 of the 2021 International Plumbing Code, a new exception, Exception 6, has been added to the standard requirement for public restrooms requiring separate facilities for male and female occupation. Exception 6 states:
“Separate facilities shall not be required where rooms having both water closets and lavatory fixtures are designed for use by both sexes and privacy for water closets is provided in accordance with Section 405.3.4.”
This exception opens the door for gang-style gender neutral bathrooms in public spaces which will lead to an increase in sexual violence and discrimination against society’s most vulnerable, including women and children.
How You can Use Your Voice
Please voice your concern to the State about the issue of gender neutral bathrooms. The letter and State Official contacts are prepared for you. All you need to do is email it or send a hard copy to the contacts. Follow the simple directions below.
Directions for emailing State Officials;
1. Insert your name on the end of the attached letter (2021 International Plumbing Code Gender Neutral Bathroom Concern.docx).
2. Save the letter in your computer.
3. Type this in the subject line of your email: 2021 International Plumbing Code Gender Neutral Bathroom.
4. Type this in the body of your email: Please see the attachment about my concern on the 2021 International Plumbing Code Gender Neutral Bathroom provision. Thank you.
5. Insert/attach the saved letter from your computer to the email.
6. Email separately to all the 16 contacts (open attachment Georgia State Officials Email Contact about Gender Neutral Bathroom Concern.docx).
State Officials
Please email to each of these 16 contacts in separate email.
Senator Ben Watson email to staff kaylon.day@senate.ga.gov.
Senator Derek Mallow email to staff ashley.thomas@senate.ga.gov.
Representative Carl Gilliard email directly to him carl.gilliard@house.ga.gov.
Representative Jesse Petrea email directly to him jesse.petrea@house.ga.gov.
Representative Ron Stephens email directly to him ron.stephens@house.ga.gov.
Senator Marty Harbin (Chairman of Senate Committee Government Oversight) email to staff jenna.purpura@senate.ga.gov.
Senator Frank Ginn (Chairman of Senate Committee State and Local Government Operations) email to staff emily.doppel@senate.ga.gov.
Senator John Albers (Chairman of Senate Committee Public Safety) email to staff allison.bailey@senate.ga.gov.
Senator Matt Brass (Chairman of Senate Committee Rules) email to staff mercedes.benites@senate.ga.gov.
Representative John LaHood (Chairman of House Committee on Governmental Affairs) email directly to him john.lahood@house.ga.gov.
Representative Beth Camp (Chairman of House Committee Intergovernmental Coordination) email directly to her beth.camp@house.ga.gov.
Representative J Collins (Chairman of House Committee Public Safety and Homeland Security) email directly to him j.collins@house.ga.gov.
Representative Karen Mathiak (Chairman of House Committee State Planning & Community Affairs) email directly to her karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov.
Representative Richard Smith (Chairman of House Committee Rules) email directly to him
15. Representative Steven Sainz (Chairman of House Committee Special Rules) email directly to him steven.sainz@house.ga.gov.
16. First Lady Marty Kemp email directly to firstlady@georgia.gov.