On Friday, Yelp added a new feature to its app that lets users know if the business has gender-neutral bathrooms. The new feature started working on Friday.
Along with Yelp other 100 companies who filed an amicus brief in support of Gavin Grimm on Thursday. Grimm is a transgender student who is currently in a legal process over bathroom access.
New inclusive Yelp feature.
The new feature will make it easier for users to find businesses with gender-neutral bathrooms. For now, users can check if the businesses have these facilities or not in the simple yes/no feature. Business owners can also update their information on their establishment’s page.
Yelp announced that in upcoming weeks users will be able to search specifically for businesses that have gender-neutral restrooms.
Rachel Williams, Yelp’s head of diversity and inclusion pointed out what gender-neutral bathrooms are, “Gender neutral restrooms are accessible to persons of any gender and are a locking, single-stall bathroom,” she said.
Inclusion and acceptance initiative.
This new featured was added in response to Trump administration’s recent protective guidelines for trans students, which raised concerns from LGBTQ rights groups.
“In response to the recent public policy assault on LGBTQ community, and timed for our support of the Gavin Grimm Amicus Brief signed by more than 100 companies, we believe it’s important for the business community to speak up when our nation’s values are threatened,” Williams explained.
Gavin Grimm taking it to court.
Along with Yelp, Apple AirBnB, Microsoft, and many other companies signed an amicus court brief in support of Gavin Grimm. Grimm is currently suing his school board in Virginia after he was denied access to the boy’s restrooms. His case will soon be taken to the Supreme Court.
Yelp published a statement on Tuesday in support to Grimm and the LGBTQ community saying, “We believe it is paramount for the business community to speak up in support of equality and dignity, as the Supreme Court is now hearing Gavin’s case. At Yelp, we thrive on inclusion and acceptance, and we hope that our support for Gavin’s case and the addition of this new business attribute will help our friends in the LGBTQQIA community.”
Source: Life Hacker