Primark changing rooms

[crikeybarker]

In the light of self-id as trans already overriding the exceptions to the Equality Act, Primark still has sex segregated changing rooms but proudly declare that they allow everyone to use the changing room of their choice. To me this is worse than the topshop mixed sex changing rooms as women and girls think they are safe in a segregated space but in reality men are allowed access on demand.
Primark refuse to answer my emails or respond to tweets about this and I don't know how else to get the word out and make them reconsider. I have a teen daughter and won't allow her to use the changing rooms while this goes on.
Anyone else concerned and fancy contacting them or advising me what to try next?

I have spoken to my local branch manager and was told to email head office. I have done so repeatedly and get no reply. They also refuse to engage on twitter.
My local branch has a communal area with curtained cubicals, so no privacy at all. Very few women and girls know the policy so are quite confidently using the communal space to undress, thinking it is a women only area.
It would be more honest to declare them unisex like topshop than state they are 'womens' but allow any man to enter who feels like it.
In the US, unisex changing areas have resulted in spy holes and hidden cameras so even those that are secured with doors etc are not safe.
It's the refusal of primark to admit their policy and the shortfalls of it that is so alarming to me. They know it is indefensible but are too afraid to talk about it.

A good test would be for supportive men to prove the point by requesting access. More effective than women complaining I think.

Unfortunate choice of user name astroterf

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astroturfing

Our local Primark have curtains.

This policy discriminates against women from groups who cannot use a space they have to share with men.

Saskia I thought the same

Astroterf

You need to stop thinking of MTF trans people as gay. Most of them are not. They are straight males.

Astro - I think what you are saying is that a well meaning transgender person is being unfairly judged because of heterosexual men who harass women.

but when a trans is self identified, what's the difference between them and a heterosexual man?

also where would a gay man fit in to your ideas - should he be allowed to change next door to a teenage girl because he's gay?

this is why these facilities are separated by genitals in the first place.

OP have you tried writing to your local MP? Have you alerted Fair Play for Women?

sorry, I know how difficult this all is.

I do not understand how you can have sex segregated areas, that are not segregated by sex? Makes no sense at all.

Our local primark is floor to ceiling lockable doors so this wouldn't bother me as such. But why on earth keep 'male and female' changing rooms, when either sex can use either. Why not be honest and say they are not sex segregated?!

I am starting to think that a card a bit like the proof of age ones is needed In reality there aren't a huge number of trans around but they are very vocal. There are probably a lot more sexual predators who would say they identify as female just to get into female changing rooms, it's not a problem if they have lockable doors the problem is with communal and curtains

It is still a problem if the cubicles have lockable doors.
The toilets in the local shopping centre have 2 doors and 2 narrow corridors to access the room where the toilets are.
I dont want to be stuck in there with no attendant and a predatory man.

Allowing men in there prevents many women from using them at all.

Well no full cubicles is not ideal. But its much better than just making the flimsy efforts some places have into unisex. Obviously its up to shops if they decide to give women a place away from men or not (I think they should, and vice versa but its not really the same for men) but to pretend that women and men are separated when in reality they are not..well its dodgy.

Isn't the something in the equality act about changing rooms being single sex, and being trans makes no difference?

Maybe ask them why they are going against the equality act?

Oh bloody hell - I just found this and I am sure it is wrong

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/discrimination-in-the-provision-of-goods-and-services/discrimination-in-the-provision-of-goods-and-services1/goods-and-services-what-are-the-different-types-of-discrimination/what-doesn-t-count-as-unlawful-discrimination-in-goods-and-services/single-sex-and-separate-services-for-men-and-women-when-discrimination-is-allowed/

ItsAllGoingToBeFine

That shows single sex changing rooms are legal. To allow biological men in them would exclude many women including Muslim, Jewish, Sikh and Romany women.

For the same reason a trans identifying male would not be welcome in the womens only area of a mosques, synagogue or Sikh temple. Its a single sex area, sex is a protected characteristic. As are religion and race.

I worked for them until 6 months ago. They told us in the training session that covered this that if other customers were uncomfortable with a person of the opposite sex using the changing rooms, we should ask the opposite sex person to compromise by using the disabled/accessible access changing cubicle, which is usually right the the assistants and lockable even if others are only curtains. If you do complain, go straight to head office/social media as individual store managers are pretty likely to palm you off and take no action, imho.

That shows single sex changing rooms are legal

Nope:

"If you’re a transsexual person, you mustn’t be excluded from separate or single sex services provided to people of your chosen gender, unless there’s a good enough reason for excluding you. For example, a shop with single sex changing rooms should allow a transsexual woman to change in the women's changing area."

And:

'Services should be provided to you according to the sex in which you present. In particular, if you have a gender recognition certificate you mustn’t be excluded from single sex services. A gender recognition certificate is a document which allows you to be legally recognised in your acquired gender.'

Just this week a Starbucks employee was convicted of voyeurism after installing a secret camera in the toilets where he worked.

You can even buy cameras that look like coat hooks that can be attached to the inside of a door.

Most shops I go in have a separate cubicle for each person. I don't see many communal areas any more. Also a lot have mixed sex staff on them so not as easy to change in the corridor bit when busy.

What would be a reason good 'enough reason for excluding you.' I wonder. Who decides if the reason is good enough the trans person?

Goose, the reason trans activists want the Gender Recognition Act is so that no certificate or paper proof is required.

I’m interested to know what are the potential links between trans people and sex offences?

I’m interested to know what are the potential links between trans people and sex offences?

The issue more is that with the proposed changes to the GRA any predatory male would only have to state he was female to enter female spaces, and it would be unlawful to challenge him.

Well, MTFs are male and commit sexual crime as much as other males. As well as opening up a huge opportunity for other men to prey on women. That's what it has to do with them.

I really don't get the angst. There are cubicles. I doubt that a sign notifying sex segregation will really stop a predator. This is such an artificial outrage.