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Original poster

Youth Hostels Association placing men in women's dorms.

37 replies

ArabellaSaurus · 29/09/2025 10:24

The YHA are apparently determined to put men into female-only dorms.

Trans identifying man Debbie Hayton booked in July 2025:

'On July 16, YHA customer services told me that,
‘You are welcome to stay in our female dormitory, as you are a woman. We split our dorms by gender, and not sex, so our guests can stay in the room they assign themselves with.’
...

'If any guest does not want to stay in a dorm with any other guest, we offer private rooms… We consulted our solicitors while developing the policy to ensure that it was informed by and compliant with law. We consulted other organisations including the NSPCC, Scouts, Mermaids and Gendered Intelligence on different aspects of the policy. We have also taken advice from the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Our policy was considered and approved by our Board of Trustees… We sought legal advice from our solicitors following the Supreme Court ruling, which indicated that no changes to our policy were needed, pending the final updated Code of Practice for services, public functions and associations from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which we now await.’

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-is-the-yha-allowing-males-to-stay-in-womens-dorms/

https://archive.ph/mD9Ce#selection-1807.0-1807.772

Thread from 2019;

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/3662983-Shocked-by-YHA-transgender-policy-wording

So they appear to be breaking the law.

https://www.yha.org.uk/contact-us

Why is the YHA allowing males to stay in women’s dorms?

On April 16, the Supreme Court ruled that the meaning of the terms  ‘sex’, ‘man’ and ‘woman’ in the Equality Act refer to biology. More than three months later, you might think that the Youth Hostels Association (YHA) – an organisation that provides si...

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-is-the-yha-allowing-males-to-stay-in-womens-dorms/

OP posts:
InSlovakiaTheCapitalOfCourseIsBratislava · 29/09/2025 21:41

Stick to Scotland
single sex and better scenery (no promises about the weather)

tobee · 29/09/2025 21:28

Ditto Gendered Intelligence

deadpan · 29/09/2025 21:12

If you're thick enough to consult Mermaids there is no hope.

deadpan · 29/09/2025 21:12

If you're thick enough to consult Mermaids there is no hope.

PauliesWalnuts · 29/09/2025 20:53

i’ve never ever been able to book a single room in a YHA - they are like hens teeth. Plus over Covid they’ve switched to dynamic pricing meaning that sometimes it’s more expensive than a Premier Lodge.

Shedmistress · 29/09/2025 18:50

Hayton wrote the policy that allowed men in female spaces at schools and this has spread across any agency that takes kids so Debbie you wing nut, its because of you. Which you are more than aware of. Still won't apologise though will you, or work to erase this policy in schools.

IwantToRetire · 29/09/2025 18:47

It will depend on how they advertise this.

If they use the word woman or women then they are clearly in breach of the Supreme Court ruling. And would have been in the past if they advertised it under the EA and quoted the SSE.

If they somehow advertise it as though who a female gender identity, it might be different.

Just a bit surprised they do ackowledge that some women may not want this and offer a single room. Can think of other organisations who would have said accept this or dont use our service.

slippedawaylikeabottleofwine · 29/09/2025 10:30

This is one of the reasons I won’t stay in a hostel. You can’t guarantee your safety.

BaronessEllarawrosaurus · 29/09/2025 10:29

Unfortunately they are not given an exemption to segregate by gender so someone should sue them for discrimination or would they allow any man to go sleep in the women's dorms?

Unfortunately I myself can not stay with the yha as I don't claim any gender so not entitled to sleep anywhere.

OP posts:
Original poster
ArabellaSaurus · 29/09/2025 10:27

For comparison, Hostelling Scotland:

https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/our-approach-to-inclusion/

'Hostelling Scotland is an organisation open to all and we treat all our guests with respect and dignity.
Our number one priority is the safety, privacy and comfort of everyone.

We provide guests with a flexible choice of shared accommodation, private and family rooms. It is important to stress that all of our hostels provide female-only and male-only accommodation.

Hostelling Scotland recognises that gender presentation is a complex issue but we are confident that our accommodation offers maximum safety, privacy and peace of mind for all our guests.
We welcome around 380,000 people each year who value our sensitive approach to their needs.'

How refreshing!

OP posts:
Original poster
ArabellaSaurus · 29/09/2025 10:25

A recent thread that I'd missed!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5391891-youth-hostels

OP posts: