Introducing The Flushy Awards

Written by: Evie Smith Hatmaker

There is infrastructure we talk about (roads, bridges, public transit), and infrastructure we don't. Restrooms fall firmly in the second category, even though they shape who can stay at the park, hold down a job, ride the bus, or participate in public life at all.

Today, Throne Labs is proud to announce The Flushy Awards: an annual awards program recognizing the individuals, cities, counties, agencies, and organizations doing the work of expanding access to public restrooms. Nominations open April 20 at flushyawards.org.

Why this program exists

Restroom access is an equity issue. The consequences of inadequate access don't fall evenly: they fall hardest on people with disabilities, those with chronic gastrointestinal conditions like Crohn's disease or IBD, frontline and mobile workers, transit operators, caregivers, families, unhoused neighbors, and older adults.

These are people whose ability to participate fully in public life depends, in part, on whether a restroom is available, accessible, and safe. When it isn't, they leave. They cut the shift short, skip the event, avoid the commute, or stay home entirely.

Despite this reality, the leaders working to change it rarely receive recognition. City planners quietly prioritizing restroom infrastructure. Transit agencies installing facilities at every station. Advocates turning a taboo topic into policy. Innovators designing for bodies that existing spaces weren't built for. This work is real, it matters, and it deserves a spotlight.

The award categories

The Flushies will recognize leaders across six categories in its inaugural 2026 class:

• Municipality of the Year - The municipality making the boldest investment in public restroom infrastructure.
• Transit Excellence - The transit agency ensuring riders can travel with confidence, there and back.
• Innovator Award - Breakthrough technology or design that expands who can access public space.
• Advocate of the Year - Turning a quiet infrastructure gap into a public conversation and policy priority.
• Community Champion - Serving those with the highest barriers.
• Breaking the Taboo - Individuals or organizations normalizing toilet talk for the greater good.

Recipients may include cities, counties, public agencies, transit authorities, employers, advocacy organizations, community groups, and individuals. Recognition is based on demonstrated real-world impact.

Our founding partners

The Flushies are built in partnership with organizations that understand this issue deeply and personally. Throne convenes; they are centered.

Our founding partners: Crohn's & Colitis Foundation · PERIOD. The Menstrual Movement · American Council of the Blind · American Restroom Association · PHLUSH · Louis Do, Accessibility Consultant

Together, these partners bring expertise across disability access, chronic illness, menstrual equity, and community advocacy. They will guide the judging process, help shape how we evaluate nominees, and ensure The Flushies centers the communities most affected by restroom access gaps.

How it works

Nominations are free and open to anyone. If you know a city, transit agency, employer, advocate, innovator, or community organization doing meaningful work on restroom access, they are eligible. A panel of judges, supported by our partner organizations, will review nominations and select winners in each category.

Timeline: Nominations Open Apr 20 · Judging Mid May · Winners Selected May 29 · Announced Early June

Winners will be announced in early June with press spotlights and winners' toolkits sent to recipients. This is recognition meant to be displayed, something people are proud to put on their desk, hang on their wall, or feature on their website.

A note on why Throne is doing this

Throne builds products that help people access restrooms. But the case for better restroom access has never been about our business, it's about the reality that basic dignity in public space still isn't universal. Cities have made progress. So have some employers, transit agencies, and advocates. But the work often happens without visibility, without recognition, and without the momentum that recognition creates.

The Flushies are our attempt to change that. By celebrating real-world action, we hope to accelerate it.

Nominations are open. Free to submit. Takes just a few minutes. Open through mid-May. Nominate at flushyawards.org

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