Which toilets a F to M transgender student should use

[WongaDotMom]

DH teaches at an FE college. One of his new students this year is transgender (female to male)
All staff and students are aware of his transgender status. (Not sure about any ops or medications, will ask DH when he gets home)

The student wishes to use the male toilets. Staff had a meeting regarding this issue, trying to avoid any issues with the male students using the toilets at the same time, and decided that the student should NOT use the male toilets, but allocated him use of the disabled toilet instead.

He was offended by this suggestion, as he does not have a disability, and is taking a stance by walking the 10 minute journey to public toilets in town where he can use the male facilities without discrimination.

I think the college should allow him use of the male facilities, DH disagrees, so I am putting it out for the MN jury to decide.

Who is BU?

male.

Male. Obviously

He should use the loos he prefers. I hope the College come to their senses. I suggest he gets the NUS involved if necessary.

The college and your DH are being totally U and their position is a breach of section 29 of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (as amended by the Sex Discrimination Regs 2008).

They'd better be grovelling, pronto, and preferably making a settlement with their student.

Male. Defo

Thanks, all.
fangirl I will look up that info, thanks.

Dunder I don't think the other students DID object or take issue with him using the male toilets, AFAIAA the staff had the meeting to preempt any objections and are speaking on behalf of the other students without actually consulting them.

He should be allowed to use the men's toilets.

I am against unisex toilets as some men are unfortunately unable to direct their Willy into the big hole that is tge toilet and seem to wee all over tge walls/floor.

In fact I am so angry about this that if you PM me OP I will advise him pro bono myself or pass him on to someone who specializes in this field.

Very simply, they are breaking the law - see Equality Act 2010.

Also, your DH and the college should be very careful about disclosing the student's transgender status without their written permission.

Definitely male. I work in HE and did diversity training t'other day an read a document referring to exactly these situations. I wracking my brains trying to think who it was published by.

Yep, direct discrimination under the Equality Act - they need to change stance, apologise immediately and teach the other students (and themselves!) about discrimination.

If he feels safe using the male toilets, then the male toilets.

Violence and sexual violence are particular dangers for transgendered people though and this may have been a consideration for staff.

queribus and nux you are better informed than I am, the Equalities Act 2010 hadn't come in when I was at law school

I didn't read all the replies so I'm sorry if it's been said already but what exactly is their issue with the transgender male using the male toilets?
Would they create an issue for homosexual students? Suggesting perhaps, that lesbians use the gents and gay males use the ladies?
I think the only reason for separate loos, at all, is because different genders pee in different ways. They always have a cubicle in the gents if the student still needs to sit.

I am disgusted at the attitude of the college. To have a meeting about it?? My god, what year are we living in? HE should be able to use the male toilets.

I worked somewhere once where we had a pre op transexual working with us. (male to female). This person was lovely but the disgusting attitude of some of my other colleagues was absolutely shocking. They outright refused to call her female.

To be honest I hope that student sues the college

Dh works at a company where there are 4 transgender employee's they have always been guided to use the facilities they are most comfortable with.

I also know though that until a person has their gender legally changed they wouls still have to go to the prison dictated by their gender at birth so you could be a week away from that legal chance and could be sent to the opposite gender's prison.. It makes me really uncomfortable

This is discrimination. The student should be 'allowed' (and I really dislike phrasing it that way) to use the male toilets because he is male. The college really ought to hope that the student doesn't decide to report them for their disgusting behaviour and attitudes.

I am aghast that this is even an issue. Poor lad :-(

This question came up on a diversity course I did at work (big blue chip). The conclusion there was also the disabled toilet as the company had to be seen to be being sensitive to the needs of others using the either all male or all female toilets. It's tricky as whilst the student might identify as male, others could still see him as a female and not want him (her) in the male toilets. I also think there would be different views on this if it was the other way round and a male becoming female would not be popular if he went into the female toilets whilst part way through treatment... Not that this should be the case, rather you can imagine the headlines if a complaint were made...

Male, if he want to. I'd guess he'd want to.

He's presenting as male, regardless of medication or surgery. No one else needs to have an opinion about what genitalia he has or what hormones.

Can I just add, this was in the context of someone who was still undergoing treatment, not someone whose treatment had finished. Whether this does - or should - make a difference is one for the legal eagles.

Yes Kim why wouldn't we?

Of course he should be using the male toilets. How insulting to suggest he should use the disabled toilets. I'm actually shocked.