Urinals banned in Portland municipal building to 'remove arbitrary barriers' in gender-neutral quest

The city of Portland has banned urinals in its remodeled administrative building to "remove arbitrary barriers in our community," KGW-TV reported.

Chief Administrative Officer Tom Rinehart emailed employees last February, saying, "We will continue to have gender-specific (male and female) multi-stall restrooms that are readily available to any employee that prefers to use one. But there will be no urinals in any restroom in the building," the station said.

"I am convinced that this is the right way to ensure success as your employer, remove arbitrary barriers in our community, and provide leadership that is reflective of our shared values," he added, KGW reported.

The station added that the city has redesigned all the restrooms to be gender-neutral, which means urinals are banned even in the men's restrooms.

'I think it's ridiculous'

"I think it's ridiculous," conservative talk show host Lars Larson told KGW. "First of all, I know that it already makes a lot of people uncomfortable. Secondly, it's gonna take up a lot more space, and third — anyone who's ever been to any public event — have you seen the line at the ladies' room? Do you see any line at the men's room?"

Larson added to the station that urinals use far less water than toilets.

Anything else?

The building's first, third, and 15th floors will have large multi-stall restrooms that men and women will use together, KGW said, adding that other floors will have separate men's and women's restrooms — but each floor will have at least one any-gender restroom.

There will be 42 "all-user stalls," the station said, and 104 gender-specific stalls.

The Portland building remodel will cost taxpayers $195,000,000, KGW said, adding that a spokeswoman said she didn't have a dollar figure on the cost of the restroom work.

Portland has been ground zero for a lot of left-wing protests, violence, and overall strife of late:

• The city is a well-known haven for the masked militant group Antifa, who recently were caught on video running away from police after throwing rocks at officers protecting an ICE facility.
• A Portland crowd booed during a swearing-in ceremony for a group of U.S. armed forces enlistees who pledged to "obey the orders of the president of the United States."
• Law enforcement confiscated the guns last month of a former Marine who supports President Donald Trump under Oregon's new "red flag" law after he threatened to "slaughter" Antifa in self-defense during a demonstration outside Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler's house.

(H/T: RedState)