Greetings,
I am catching up on list traffic. I would like to share my experience in the hope that it furthers the conversation with ALA administration, with Council, and with prospective venues.
I am a cis-gender male. Around 2 pm on Friday, June 22, I was waiting in line for the Opening Session, approximately opposite Hall I-2. There were a pair of bathrooms nearby. One was labeled W and the presumably M labeled bathroom had been designated as any gender with an ALA placard. I attempted to enter this bathroom to use the facilities. There was a female convention center staffer just inside the door who blocked my entry, stating words to the effect, "No, no, you can't use this. Security said this was for women only." I pointed out the obvious signage, to which the staffer reiterated that I could not use the bathroom and directed me to take the escalators to use a male bathroom on the 2nd floor. I elected to return to line where my place was being held, in hopes of finding more amenable accommodations once inside Hall F.
While getting seated in the Hall, I was discussing the incident (and need to find a bathroom) with others when Megan and then Ana Elisa were in hearing and I was able to convey this to them.
I will add that it is one thing to have a cognitive awareness of an issue and quite another to experience it viscerally. For that education, I am grateful. The momentary and single inconvenience I experienced is nothing in comparison to the ongoing potential for difficulty or worse every time a transperson needs to use public facilities. This is an issue of profound import to basic human dignity -- a statement which might well be incorporated into the resolution. [I realize these ought to be obvious, but they bear affirming.]
Please add my name in support of the resolution.
With apologies for the lateness of this contribution,
John Myers