Single-Sex Facility Access Policy Provides Equal Rights Protections
In New York City, all City employees and members of the public using City services are legally allowed to use the single-sex facility they choose based on their gender expression. Gender expression is the external representation of an individual’s gender identity and can be expressed through names, hairstyles, behaviors and choice of clothing that may be considered masculine or feminine or neither.
That means, for example, that an individual who identifies as a woman, regardless of the gender the individual was assigned at birth, is allowed to use the women’s restroom at any City-operated facility.
NYCHA’s Single Sex Facility Policy states that no one needs to prove their gender by showing identification, medical documentation or any other form of proof of gender in order to use any single-sex facility in any of our buildings or the facilities we manage, including NYCHA-run community centers. It covers the use of bathrooms, locker rooms, waiting areas, lounges and living spaces.
This policy protects conduct in the workplace, not personal beliefs. Employees do not need to change their beliefs. They do need to make sure that every individual is entitled to equal treatment in the workplace, free from discrimination. Any individual who interferes with another’s right to use the single-sex facility of his or her choice is subject to disciplinary action.
Any employee who has a concern about an individual who has used a single-sex facility should not confront that person. Instead, he or she should speak to a supervisor or a member of NYCHA’s Department of Equal Opportunity.
The hotline for NYCHA’s DEO is 212-306-4468.
