Self-Description of a University–Community Partnership to Advocate for Restroom Access Policy Change in Chicago

Abstract:Background: Transgender, nonbinary, and gender-non-conforming individuals face significant obstacles accessing public restrooms, resulting in negative mental and physical health consequences.Objectives: We describe the Chicago Restroom Access Project, a university and community partnership aimed at reforming restroom laws in Chicago and the state of Illinois.Methods: A range of community-engagement approaches were used, including recruiting, mobilizing, and partnering with diverse stakeholders, amplifying the voices of under-represented members of the impacted community, collecting data for evidence-based decision-making, fluid membership, and diffuse leadership.Results: Outcomes included developing resources for public education, changing the City of Chicago Human Rights Ordinance, changing Illinois state law on single-occupancy restrooms, and implementing restroom reform at an educational institution. Lessons learned are also described.Conclusions: The methods and principles of this partnership provide approaches that can be used to advocate for reform and policy change for restroom access throughout the country.