Primark Coventry challenged for asking trans woman for ID before allowing entry to female changing rooms.

[R0wantrees]

twitter.com/n_m_king/status/986505706449854465

Their friend from Oxford University has raised the complaint and describing this as a transphobic act. ( Twitter.)

I’ve replied in support of Primark too, I’m glad they’re taking female privacy seriously

That's brilliant. Well done Primark.

That's really strange, Smeaton.

I've copied it here (minus the person's details):

"I havent shopped @Primark for months as I was under the impression you didnt have sex segregated changing rooms.

Can you confirm if you are sex segregating, as you are legally able to?

Ive 4 kids, were spending thousands on clothes Id love for us to shop here again!"

I'm hopeless not very good with Twitter though so I'm not sure how else to show the page on here.

There are other situations when a person might be surprised and upset to be asked to show ID.
Shops and bars have guidance in place for employees to ask in respect of age and they err on the side of caution since the basis behind the law is to protect children and young people.

I have emailed to support this particular employee.

Twitter blocks and mute options have all sorts of wide-reaching consequences....

In some ways I feel for the individual in this case.

Although I am female I am sometimes "read" as male due to my non-conforming appearance. I would be fairly mortified if asked for ID on entering a changing room. However, I would understand why it was asked and I would be glad that my female space was being protected.

I wouldn't try and initiate a Twitter pile on.

Is it really too much to ask? For a person to be asked to affirm their chosen gender when the result is safety for women and girls, and perhaps for other trans women? And by doing so, protect their own community (imagine the backlash should a predatory male achieve access to women's changing rooms by pretending to be trans)

Someone may well have reported a comment they don't like, as a way to get it removed, especially if mob reporting used.

Twitter is based in SF and Californian Law deigns all Trans as protected minority. Twitter no doubt employs lots of Trans as mods - it's a notoriously pro-Trans platform hence why TRAs and their cadre lodge there and why it's so full of their hate speech against women.

MrsBeaujangles - Fancy getting together and trying to make your fabulous poll a reality, amend it and get it out to women? Any evidence we can get the better. PM me if you like. I think it's important work.

I've posted a supportive message and liked all the other supportive ones. Supportive of the employee asking for ID I mean.

@MrsBeaujangles (sorry, should have done the @!)

Well done Primark. It's a bit of an awkward siuation for them. Either they ask people who stand out as trans for ID, and risk being accused of transphobia, or they risk alienating some of their core customer base, ie women and girls. Of course a lot depends on how secure their changing rooms are, I never try stuff on in Primark so can't comment there.

Is there any alternative to Twitter?

I think that we have to call it safeguarding and get away from what is or is not transphobia or hate speech. It is basic safeguarding.

Anyone whose feelings are hurt by reasonable procedures to ensure the safety of vulnerable adults and children shouldn't be allowed near the vulnerable adults and children.

With safeguarding if people object to the checks they aren't allowed access.

covered by Pink News
"
In a statement to PinkNews, a spokesperson for Primark said it was aware of the complaint posted to Twitter and that “we welcome all customers to use the fitting rooms of their choice.”

“We are aware of a customer’s complaint regarding their experience at our Coventry store and are in touch with them as we investigate as a matter of urgency,” the Primark spokesperson said."

www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/04/18/primark-investigating-after-trans-woman-refused-entry-to-womens-changing-room/

Although as a current running thread shows, changing gender / sex on documents such as driving licenses is not as some might expect...

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3226988-Even-without-self-ID-you-can-change-your-documents

“we welcome all customers to use the fitting rooms of their choice.”

Unless your choice would be single sex fitting rooms, I guess?

The responses on those twitter threads are heartening. If only these kinds of issues got properly into the mainstream to be discussed and commented on by average people. It would be an ice bucket challenge for the echochamberists.

Yes Errol. Quite.

Well, why don't we all go to Primark, ask which changing room we can use, when told the one we feel most comfortable in, we all say single sex? It could make a point.

“we welcome all customers to use the fitting rooms of their choice.”*
So a male who looks like a male and presents as a male and is a male can choose to use the female changing room as a matter of choice?
*

Perhaps you've been blocked? I think then your tweets won't show up.

I just emailed them to say that I support their policy. Women's need for safety and security is more important than validating someone's identity.