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Original poster

Are toilets still allowed to be cleaned by members of the opposite sex?

510 replies

PoisedRubyLion · 27/05/2025 15:50

I see signs saying toilets may be cleaned by members of the opposite sex in a lot of places. Is this allowed after the supreme court ruling? If a male cleaner was in there it would be a mixed sex space.

OP posts:
myplace · 27/05/2025 16:26

Circumferences · 27/05/2025 16:24

I am not sending my 8 year old child into a men's service station toilet by himself. Social services would be on my case in a heartbeat.
Come off it. 😆

However, if I saw I 6 foot bloke in the women's while I was with my 8 year old child I'd give him a hard stare at the very least. Get real.

You do have to start doing that. It’s a process.

You lurk outside feeling panicked and glaring at all who go in and out, you say loudly- Straight in and out, Fred. I’m right here. Shout if you need me!

And everyone understands.

Circumferences · 27/05/2025 16:26

Why would a male child using the space not make it single sex?

The exemptions make it clear it is about adult human females and adult human males.

No child is going to be sent alone into a single sex space without their parent or carer.

The exemptions specifically lay this out.

myplace · 27/05/2025 16:25

Ah, so not a serious conversation then, just a weak attempt at a Gotcha!

OK, Gotcha!

Funny how women really really understand how this works, and men come up with whataboutery to find a loophole that lets them continue their entitled self absorbed behaviour.

Original poster
PoisedRubyLion · 27/05/2025 16:24

WallaceinAnderland · 27/05/2025 16:20

I could go into the toilet and encounter a male child. No sign for that.

Little children need to be accompanied by their carer. It is the carer's sex that determines which facilities they use.

Do you really need this to be explained to you?

I get it. Some people are only just starting to think about this.

Where does the law say this? The Supreme Court is clear that sex means biological sex in the equality act, and that act makes provision for single sex spaces.

OP posts:
titchy · 27/05/2025 16:24

Oh look a squirrel!

Circumferences · 27/05/2025 16:24

I am not sending my 8 year old child into a men's service station toilet by himself. Social services would be on my case in a heartbeat.
Come off it. 😆

However, if I saw I 6 foot bloke in the women's while I was with my 8 year old child I'd give him a hard stare at the very least. Get real.

Original poster
PoisedRubyLion · 27/05/2025 16:22

Greyskybluesky · 27/05/2025 16:15

Glad you're still here OP. Any joy on providing the actual words the ruling uses?

The Supreme Court says for the equality act sex is biological sex. The equality act makes provision for single sex spaces. Why would a male child using the space not make it single sex?

I don’t care that it has always been that way. How does the ruling allow that to continue?

OP posts:
WallaceinAnderland · 27/05/2025 16:22

Kangarude · 27/05/2025 16:21

It was obviously not a serious question

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You'd be surprised. The lawyer Robin Moira White also made the same comment on Woman's Hour.

Kangarude · 27/05/2025 16:21

PoisedRubyLion · 27/05/2025 16:10

I could go into the toilet and encounter a male child. No sign for that.

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It was obviously not a serious question

WallaceinAnderland · 27/05/2025 16:20

I could go into the toilet and encounter a male child. No sign for that.

Little children need to be accompanied by their carer. It is the carer's sex that determines which facilities they use.

Do you really need this to be explained to you?

I get it. Some people are only just starting to think about this.

Dominoodles · 27/05/2025 16:20

PoisedRubyLion · 27/05/2025 16:10

I could go into the toilet and encounter a male child. No sign for that.

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Nobody fears being raped, stalked or beaten by a small child, and children are not what people are taking about when they say males in women's spaces. Come on. Be serious. You know exactly what the real argument is.

Circumferences · 27/05/2025 16:20

Transsexual have been around a very long time and using facilities.

I love how this line is trotted out while simultaneously apparently women with short hair are now being challenged for using facilities pertaining to their sex.

So we never notice transwomen but we are being aggressive to actual women using the ladies. Apparently. Yes, we all believe this is happening.

Blackdow · 27/05/2025 16:16

PoisedRubyLion · 27/05/2025 16:10

I could go into the toilet and encounter a male child. No sign for that.

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That’s a child. Another thing that has always been that way and I’ve never heard anyone complain. Once they hit 8, they should go into toilets matching their own sex. If an older child is there, then you go right ahead and complain.

Greyskybluesky · 27/05/2025 16:15

Glad you're still here OP. Any joy on providing the actual words the ruling uses?

Blackdow · 27/05/2025 16:15

PoisedRubyLion · 27/05/2025 16:12

If we’re following it to the absolute letter of the law it is the same. It seems like common sense for me…

Transsexual have been around a very long time and using facilities. You could also say it’s always been that way.

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It doesn’t apply to service providers. Owners doing cleaning or maintenance/outside agencies sending in cleaners or maintenance staff.

What is your issue?

frenchnoodle · 27/05/2025 16:13

PoisedRubyLion · 27/05/2025 16:12

If we’re following it to the absolute letter of the law it is the same. It seems like common sense for me…

Transsexual have been around a very long time and using facilities. You could also say it’s always been that way.

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And they have always been doing it against the law.

Now they know that for certain.

Circumferences · 27/05/2025 16:13

Don't be deliberately daft.

Are toilets still allowed to be cleaned by members of the opposite sex?
Original poster
PoisedRubyLion · 27/05/2025 16:12

Blackdow · 27/05/2025 16:05

This is not the same and you know it. They do not become mixed sex because of a cleaner doing their job. It’s literally always been that way.

Show quote history

If we’re following it to the absolute letter of the law it is the same. It seems like common sense for me…

Transsexual have been around a very long time and using facilities. You could also say it’s always been that way.

OP posts:
frenchnoodle · 27/05/2025 16:12

PoisedRubyLion · 27/05/2025 16:00

I’m just pointing out that the supreme court ruling was very clear. If a male is in a female space it becomes mixed sex and any person can use it. Those were the supreme courts words.

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These were not the supreme courts words.

Can you imagine a supreme court ruling being given like that?

Original poster
PoisedRubyLion · 27/05/2025 16:10

UpsideDownChairs · 27/05/2025 16:09

As a rule, while the cleaner is in there, there is a sign out warning you of that fact. If there wasn't a sign, you might have a point.

I could go into the toilet and encounter a male child. No sign for that.

OP posts:
UpsideDownChairs · 27/05/2025 16:09

As a rule, while the cleaner is in there, there is a sign out warning you of that fact. If there wasn't a sign, you might have a point.

WallaceinAnderland · 27/05/2025 16:06

More whataboutery.

The fact that a male (who is not pretending to be female) has temporary agreed access to do his job does not mean that all men can access all female only spaces.

The same applies if a male plumber needs access to do the job he has been employed to do.

Blackdow · 27/05/2025 16:05

PoisedRubyLion · 27/05/2025 16:00

I’m just pointing out that the supreme court ruling was very clear. If a male is in a female space it becomes mixed sex and any person can use it. Those were the supreme courts words.

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This is not the same and you know it. They do not become mixed sex because of a cleaner doing their job. It’s literally always been that way.

EmpressoftheMundane · 27/05/2025 16:04

Toilet cleaners work for a company that DBS checks them and has policies and procedures in regards to their behaviour. When an opposite sex attendant is cleaning, they usually put up a sign alerting users.

So very different from the current free for all, where anyone for any reason can sally into the ladies’ room unchallenged and do whatever they like.

Greyskybluesky · 27/05/2025 16:03

PoisedRubyLion · 27/05/2025 16:00

I’m just pointing out that the supreme court ruling was very clear. If a male is in a female space it becomes mixed sex and any person can use it. Those were the supreme courts words.

Show quote history

And what are the actual words the ruling uses?