On June 21 the Greater Spokane Association of Evangelicals will host a community discussion on transgender bathrooms.
The organization recently sent out a survey, in which 90 percent of respondents said the church will soon need to address the transgender bathroom issue. In an announcement, the GSAE also said they have heard numerous stories of men using the women’s restroom in local churches.
At the event, pastors will have the opportunity to discuss how to address this issue with their congregations. According to an announcement, confirmed panelists who will lead the transgender bathroom discussion are:
- Pastor Eric Blauer of Jacob’s Well Church
- Joseph Backhold of the Family Policy Institute
- Pastor Dan Shields of Valley Real Life
The discussion will be from 9-11 a.m. at Fellowship Church of God, 2102 East Everett Ave. A $10 suggested donation will be taken at the door. Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP online as space is limited.

Tracy Simmons is an award winning journalist specializing in religion reporting, digital entrepreneurship and social journalism. In her 15 years on the religion beat, Simmons has tucked a notepad in her pocket and found some of her favorite stories aboard cargo ships in New Jersey, on a police chase in Albuquerque, in dusty Texas church bell towers, on the streets of New York and in tent cities in Haiti.
Simmons has worked as a multimedia journalist for newspapers across New Mexico, Texas and Connecticut. Currently she serves as the executive director of SpokaneFAVS.com, a digital journalism start-up covering religion news and commentary in Spokane, Wash. She is also a Scholarly Assistant Professor at Washington State University.