Birmingham hippodrome gender neutral toilets

[Cuntysnark]

www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/theatre-news/birmingham-hippodrome-installs-new-gender-15334138

Interesting results on the poll. I wonder how long before they do a ‘Leeds’ and take it down.

I think it’s useful when talking about loos to call them mixed sex rather than gender neutral. It helps people who aren’t familiar with what’s going on understand.

Looking at the article it says single sex provision remains so I think this is ok. Might make the ladies have less of a queue.

I use the Hippodrome frequently, the queues between performances are really busy, it'll be interesting to see if they're used by anyone wanting a wee fast and folk who are trans. The Hippodrome is located in the, as it has been know for years, "gay village" of Brum. I wonder if they'd have installed it if it wasn't.

A beach resort, here in the uk, I go frequently, has made its loo's all gender neutral and it's vile. If you're queuing for the cubical, you can see the blokes at the urinal, it must be horrible if you have little girls, seeing grown men use the loo. I don't like it myself. It was really badly designed.

Many times in my life, in childhood and my teenage years, did I come across random sex offenders, once being chased in a park through a river (god knows what would have happened if he'd caught me, I was 7), 2 different stalkers in my teens and 2 flashers, one on a bus. If they have this urge to expose themselves and blame it on a design flaw in the toilets, it's easy pray and worries me, to be honest. These people exist.

I have a young adult family member transitioning, who I fully support, so I'm well aware of the situation. I still think public toilets that are a free for all are open to abuse by sex offenders.

The implication of the piece is that these unisex loos are in addition to existing sex-specific ones - if so, excellent. If there are lots of 'trans and non binary' theatregoers then it should be good for them, if there aren't then it should reduce any queues at the existing loos. Being one of the fortunate women who's never suffered physical or sexual abuse, I'd be happy to use the unisex loo and still have time for an ice cream.

Men are leaving the doors open when they use they toilets. What a surprise. FFS

Urgh... I'd not read that far. If they're peeing with their back to the room it wouldn't put me off using them but I'd be inclined to make audible comments about unacceptable exhibitionism.

I used to work at that theatre many moons ago and can't imagine many patrons being happy.

We have mixed sex toilets at work. Despite signs and emails the men do pee with the door open, all over the floor and leave seats up. They don't wash their hands.

They don't use the toilet brush either when they go for a crap.

They don't wash their hands

I've been travelling a lot for business these past couple of weeks. Lots of restaurants and the lounges in hotels have individual toilets and shared sinks.

My informally collected statistics are that these supposedly high level, educated, important men do shut the door (these are more public than their offices I guess) - but more stride out without washing than don't. Whereas I've yet to have one of the women present do that - they queue and wash their hands whilst making a minimum of small talk.

There are some people who now I cringe whenever I shake their hand, and I've got a lot more careful about touching my face before I've had a chance to wash mine!

Just bumping this thread as we went to the Hippodrome today to watch the ballet. Gender neutral toilets still in place, no one seemed too happy about it still, women were still using the toilets where the women were but also the others with urinals. DH felt very awkward so many women and children in the toilets so didn't want to use the urinals. Massive fail on all counts.

To clarify, the gender neutral toilets are the most accessible, the 'gender' segregated toilets are on the top floor and have far fewer cubicles.

What can be done to make it stop though??

AgnesNaismith
I'm afraid nothing will happen until women and children are repeatedly assaulted in mixed sex toilets. Then, just as the World Health Organisation identifies for many countries, politicians will start to recognise the dangers lack of sex segregation poses to women and they will be reintroduced. Tragically it will (as ever) be on the backs of countless women and children assaulted and harmed.

As long as there's no open urinals and men shut and lock the door, mixed loos are absolutely fine - but the above is essential! They actually work brilliantly for families with kids aged too old to use single sex really but you are worried about them going in alone.

Hmm well there are open urinals and I disagree, I still don't want my daughter to come out of the cubicle face to face with a 50yr old man any man.

I have complained...I have put in as many facts as I could but I'm not sure what else I can do.

Gosh isn't it funny how transwomen can't use the men's loo's on account of the risk of being violently attacked, but mixed sex toilets are absolutely fine and dandy. Do men of a nasty disposition avoid mixed sex facilities or summat? The experience of women says no.

Seems they want to be welcoming of everyone - apart from women.

One reason they will have done this is because it will be supported by their arts funders. Public funded organisations like this are entirely dependent on meeting requirements of those who give big ticks in boxes for priorising gender when providing services. Johnny Best has talked about this. The way to change it is simply vote with your feet and your pounds. And write to tell them so. If they are losing customers then they will be more likely to respond.

The not-shutting-the-door thing is not universal among men, in fact, from what male friends have told me, it's relatively rare and seen by men themselves as quite creepy.

One of my male colleagues mentioned that he'd had trouble with someone at work who kept leaving the cubicle door unlocked in the single-sex toilets. He said "first time I walked in on him I assumed it was an accident, next couple of times I realised he wanted to be walked in on, and was completely weirded out by it."

So the men who're leaving the cubicle doors unlocked are a small minority who do so deliberately and probably (almost certainly) for dubious motives - and unisex toilets simply give them a larger and more vulnerable pool of victims.

@HumberElla I have, I'm so sad because it is such an awesome venue! They currently have a suffragette exhibition on too...tragically ironic.

I know Agnes Ive seen the same change in quite a few arts venues.

I have an update! Following a review of their customer feedback they are moving the gender neutral toilets to the top floor - no urinals, full ceiling to floor doors.

I’m pretty happy with this as the ones they had first changed are the busiest with the most children and people generally walk near them when going upstairs, making them convenient. If people desperately want gender neutral toilets they won’t have far to walk and it won’t cause the general public issues!

Nah, trans women will want to use the ladies.

They may well want to - but at least my children won’t be sharing their toilet with every man!

That’s great Agnes and thanks for updating! Good that they acted on feedback from customers.