California Considers Law To Put Diaper Changing Tables In Men's Restrooms

  • 10 years ago
The state of California is considering two bills that would make it so that men’s restrooms would legally have to have the same access to diaper changing tables as women’s restrooms. The so-called potty parity bills have already passed in the state Senate, and are awaiting approval from hearings in the state Assembly.

The state of California is considering two bills that would require men’s restrooms have the same access to diaper changing tables as women’s restrooms.

The so-called potty parity bills have already passed in the state Senate, and are awaiting approval from hearings in the state Assembly.

One bill would require businesses like shopping malls and movie theaters, along with some private businesses, to have baby-changing tables available in men’s restrooms, with fines for businesses that don’t comply.

The second, less restictive bill would require businesses install a diaper station in the men’s if one is being installed in the women’s restroom. Democratic state Senator Ricardo Lara, who is responsible for the legislation is quoted as saying: “As the demographics of the modern American family evolve, traditional gender roles with women as the primary caregiver for the children are changing, and men are becoming more and more involved in the care of their young children. There are also a growing number of same-sex households with children.”

One survey of a thousand fathers found that 54 percent of them change their child’s diapers, compared with only 37 percent that say their father’s changed their diapers when they were children.

For fathers who want to know if a business or location has a baby-changing table accessible to them, they can use the website ChangingTableLocator.com

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