New Changing Table Law Acknowledges Men Are Parents Too

According to ABC7, a new law going into effect this year will cause changes to New York’s Uniform Building Code, requiring “all new or substantially renovated buildings with publicly accessible restrooms to provide safe and compliant changing tables.” The tables will need to be available to both men and women, with “at least one changing table accessible to both genders per publicly-accessible floor.”

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo made the announcement back in April, as part of his 2018 Women’s Agenda. In a statement, Cuomo said, “This legislation supports our efforts to make New York the nation’s model for working parents, and helps make it a stronger, fairer and more equal state for all.”

ABC7 is reporting that the progressive move was partly inspired by a viral photo from back in October. In the photo, Donte Palmer is seen squatting in the bathroom, changing his baby’s diaper on his lap, due to the lack of tables.

After the photo went viral, Palmer started the #SquatForChange movement to advocate for equal parenting rights. Palmer told the Washington Post, “We are active fathers… we don’t want to have to get in the man squat to change diapers the rest of our lives.”

But the issue has been circling around for a while now; back in 2015, Ashton Kutcher posted a Facebook status that said, “There are NEVER diaper changing stations in mens public restrooms. The first public men’s room that I go into that has one gets a free shout out on my FB page!”