Public Accessibility for Transgender Populations

  • Registration Closed

The issue of public access to public washrooms, locker rooms, and inclusive facilities is growing and the legal and court case law is expanding and changing every year. This session will identify the legal history, mandates, and changing requirements for public facility operators. In addition, lessons learned from the frontlines and first federal court case regarding transgender populations and accessibility to facilities. In addition, learn how to assess your current facilities to ensure effective operations and approaches, as well as key policies and staff training that is imperative to survive this sensitive subject matter. Lastly, learn life experiences, biases, and simple expectations from a full-time trans-female, who is an advocate. This will enable more people to understand how to have inclusive facilities for transgender populations.


Following this session, participants will be able to:

  1. Learn the legal history, mandates, and implications involved with making public facilities, workplaces, and programs inclusive for transgender populations.
  2. Develop best practices for inclusive public access.

Keri-Lyn Krafthefer

Equity Partner

Ancel Glink Diamond Bush DiCianni & Krafthefer, P.C.

Keri-Lyn Krafthefer is an equity partner with the Illinois law firm of Ancel Glink and Associates, which represents numerous Illinois local governments, including park districts. Krafthefer has been teaching public bodies and public officials about the evolving laws relating to transgender populations for several years, and she has spoken before national and international attorneys’ groups on this topic.

Michael Clark

Executive Director

Palatine Park District, IL

Mike Clark has presented on this topic at several conferences. He has experience in the access of public facilities for transgender populations as the first federal court case of locker room access ever filed was in Palatine, Illinois. Clark has developed a strategy and approach to provide an all-inclusive culture in recreational facilities and policies to help train staff and educate the public on this topic.

Sophie Michaels

Full Time Transgender Woman Panelist

Private Citizen

Sophie Michaels is an open transgender woman and has been living “full time” for several years now. This is her second year of speaking out to students and professionals (e.g., the Illinois Park and Recreation Conference, staff meetings and college classrooms) about her struggles, challenges and life experiences. She shares insight and advice for a better understanding of the transgender population.

Components visible upon registration.