Saskatoon city councillors heard 17 speakers about a recent incident concerning a transgender person at the Shaw Centre, which upset parents..The incident involved a trans woman exposing her male genitalia in the women’s changing room during little girls' swimming lessons..READ MORE Over 150 people protest Sask ‘naked man’ in girls change room. Mark Friesen Saskatoon City Hall .There were protests at city hall and the Shaw Centre over the incident..On Wednesday at the Planning, Development, and Community Services Committee meeting, the audience filled the room with many residents wanting to speak about “public safety” in Saskatoon washrooms and changing rooms..Of the 17 speakers, two wanted to change the policy to exclude transgender people from picking whatever washroom they wish to use and 15 people who are OK with the current policy..City of Saskatoon made it clear at the meeting it “complies with provincial and federal governments human rights codes” which allow people to use the washroom of their gender identity..Mark Friesen asked the councillors to change the policy back to someone having to use the bathroom of the sex they were born with and not their gender identity..“If people want to dress and pretend to be a woman, go ahead, that’s your business, not mine,” said Friesen..“However, if we are creating policy that allows predators to gain access to these change rooms where women and girls are changing, then I suggest we are on the wrong path.” .READ MORE Drag queen beats sex doll of Sask anti-transgender activist with frying pan.Ten-year-old Zipp Neufeld, who identifies as transgender non-binary and goes by they/them, spoke to the councillors..“At what point do I go from being someone you protect to someone who is a threat, not based on my heart or any of my actions, but just based on my genitalia,” said Neufeld. . Mayor Charlie Clark and Councillor Hilary Gough Saskatoon City Hall .Neufeld said they “deserve to age without fear the right to a safe bathroom and change space will be taken away" and added that "when trans adults thrive, trans children survive.”.Lorraine Fajt presented a petition to the councillors with 660 signatures to protect women’s rights to privacy in the city's facilities, protected in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms..Mayor Charlie Clark and Coun. Hilary Gough said there's no plan to change the policy and go “backwards.”.“I wish to say clearly I do not support the harmful rhetoric I have heard in our community that attempts to invalidate trans identities and spreads misinformation about trans people. This rhetoric puts trans people at risk,” said Gough..“As mayor, I have no intention of going backwards or being a city that stands out by taken steps to become more discriminatory in terms of the policies we have,” said Clark..“I do hope we can continue to learn from each other what it takes to build a safe community for everyone.”.READ MORE Saskatoon councillor breaks city’s silence on the 'naked man' in the little girls changing room
