HAWKESBURY Council will run a trial program which will see unisex toilet signs replaced with gender neutral signs at four locations across the Hawkesbury.
The decision for the ‘pilot program’ was reached at Hawkesbury Council’s February 27 meeting.
Signs which say ‘Toilet All Gender’ will be placed on public toilets at Kable Street and the Deerubbin Centre at Windsor, Richmond Park, Richmond and Ham Common Reserve at Clarendon.
Council staff will report on the pilot program and seek ‘feedback from LGBTQI groups on the impact of the installation of the gender neutral signane together with any comments or complaints which may be received from members of the community’.
Council staff interviewed two Lesbian, Gay Bi, Trans, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI) groups in the area, BLUSH and the Hawkesbury Queer Collective, about ways Council could ‘best promote inclusion through the recognition of the diversity of relationships that exist within the community’.
One of the wishes for the groups was the gender neutral signs.
At the same time, Council will become a member of ACON Health, ‘a New South Wales based health promotion organisation specialising in HIV prevention, HIV support and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) health’.
The groups interviewed told Council they believed ‘Council should invest in LGBTQI inclusion training for Councillors and staff to enable Council to “lead by example”’.
The Council resolution does not specifically mention it, but membership of ACON will allow Council staff to receive training about how to deal with members of the LGBTQI community.
Greens councillor Danielle Wheeler said Council was a major employer in the Hawkesbury and its staff should receive the training.
“It is high time we moved into the 21st century and trained our staff to deal with people with significant differences,” she said.
Liberal councillors Patrick Conolly and Sarah Richards spoke out against the pilot program.
Cr Conolly said it was not Council’s business to be doing this, while Cr Richards said Council should not spend money on this because it had applied for a Special Variation Rate rise.
Cr Conolly also asked why only one minority group was consulted.
“This is not what rate payers expect us to be doing, this is not Council business,” he said.
Independent councillor Paul Rasmussen said he welcomed the project.
“It is only fair and equitable that we should do this and take a leadership role in this,” he said.
Part of the motion also required Council to promote the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia Day event, which will be held at Mcmhaon Park, Kurrajong on May 17, through Facebook, events calendar and the Mayoral Column.
Membership to ACON will cost $5750, while the pilot program for the toilet signs will cost $1500.
