Soho Theatre criticised for gender neutral toilets

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www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6813503/West-End-theatre-slammed-gender-neutral-toilets.html

Gender neutral toilets with exposed urinals in West End theatre is branded a 'disgrace', with one visitor saying: 'I don't want to see genitalia unless it's my husband's!'
Soho Theatre on Dean Street in London is at centre of a row about gender neutral toilets after a theatre-goer complained the facilities were a 'f*ing disgrace'
Visitor witnessed women leaving the toilet after seeing the exposed urinals
However, others argued that 'everybody's identity should be respected'

How long before they reassess and the men get their toilets back, while the women’s remains mixed sex?

Probably about half a dozen complaints. But they have to be from men of course.

And then the men's toilets will be reopened, and women will be permitted to use the "everyone" toilets.

oh no, the V&A as well? I was thinking to take my elderly mum for a rare day out.

she's already not using public loos wherever possible because she's worried about this.

as for theatres - there's a statement from Soho Theatre on Twitter saying all options are available but that's not what I understood from the things posted by Glinner.

also, at the theatre, chances are you are in a rush because of the interval time and it would be a pain to go to another floor to use the right toilets, then there would be a problem for anyone with mobility issues....

I see other Tweeters saying there was a queue outside both ladies and gents because no one wanted to use the gender neutral one. I suppose if they have to wait aaaages for everyone to return after the interval, they might put two and two together.

Didn't the Barbican have to make changes after making them all gender neutral or something?

Is it Dean Street that has those horrible open urinals as well?

and my friends wonder why I don't like going out in London in the evening any more!

I don’t understand why mixed toilets need to have open urinals?

Countess Lily Madigan has plans to re educate them

Oh now that can't possibly go wrong

Might actually join twitter for that little spat

No, the Barbican did turn both the men's and women's toilets by the cinema into gender neutral facilities. They had to change them back again pretty quickly after a barrage of complaints.

agree, no need for open urinals, but now they've actually been installed in the street, it's clear that the mentality of the day is "you will see men pissing whether you want to or not"!

re Barbican, yes, that's what I thought, I heard it was a rapid backpedal!

hippo I don't think the DM article is untrue - I saw it on Twitter and my understanding is that there are still single sex loos, yes. But I don't think anyone should have to trek about anywhere to find a single sex loo, even more inconvenient when you have limited time e.g. interval and also, Tweeps are saying there were very long queues outside the single sex loos because no one wants to use the gender neutral ones with the open urinals.

glad I don't go out much anymore!

Re the V & A - the mixed sex toilets are beside the Member's restaurant. I was having a lovely day and just couldn't be arsed to have 'the discussion' (and didn't need a loo ) so have no idea whether these are an exception or not. Given the cultural mix of visitors I cannot believe that they would be stupid enough to remove single sex facilities ...... but then...... it's only recently that I've understood how much influence perverts have these days.

It's infuriating. I was out with a group of women friends a while ago, none of them involved in GC or trans issues. The topic of mixed toilets came up, not by me.

They all hated them. One said she goes to the loos to escape men, now they can go and follow her in! Another said how she hated coming out of a stall and finding a man there.

Yet all these places have brought them in. They don't give a rat's arse what women think or feel

Are these theatres in Edward Lord's city of London remit?

Anyway - I go to London theatres/restaurants a lot.

I have not come across the gender neutral nightmare yet - although the queues for the women's are quite something to behold.

OK - I will perfect my perfect scream and run out of any toilets that have men at urinals in them That will be a quite natural thing.

*fully expecting to be arrested by the gender-thought-police if I do this.

The V&A definitely have single sex toilets.

At roundhouse recently (Patti Smith - absolute legend) and women’s loo queue was horrendous. Noticed single ‘gender neutral’ right beside queue. Struggled with self. Several of us discussed whether we could bring ourselves to use it. Had quite a ‘terf’ discussion. I used it. Came out to someon who I think was possibly ‘gender fluid’ waiting to use it. One of the most complicated ridiculous loo experiences ever.

The toilets off the foyer for the cinemas at the Barbican are GN.

Lots of people looking very uncomfortable last time I went.

I saw Mixed sex toilets at the V&A last week. They were in the members cafe.

My sister and I were about to walk in when a man walked past us. Sister and I looked at each other in a WTF way and turned round. I (very) loudly asked where the nearest single sex women’s toilet was and was directed 4 floors down..

I think leaving reviews on Trip Advisor etc is a fab idea. It’s the only way these places will listen.

My daughter has to go on theatre trips a lot for her A level drama course. I had assumed single sex loos would be available and easily accessible. I hate the thought of her going to the loo with grown men. Ffs.

The problem is a lack of toilets in theatres full stop.

Absolutely agree with Anniehm. The problem is that a lot of places have just turned women's facilities into neutral ones. At least here, it is the men's that has been converted. I do realise that many theatres are listed buildings but loos are never a priority in so many buildings. The Barbican is a good example - nasty poky loos down flights of staircases whatever they are labelled. The V&A ones are unpleasant and there are not enough. Proper individual cubicles would stop people like Baldemort taking photos too.

Gender neutral only works if it's just a row of cubicles with a floor to ceiling door, I know a bar that has that set up and its fine. Dont think its even called gender neutral though, it's just ' the toilets'.

Once urinals get in on the mix, all is lost!

Russell it also has to be a cubicle with a sink in it, so fully contained.

The cubicle does not need to have a sink. This is clarified here (in paragraph 3).

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/3004/regulation/21/made

The section about separate, enclosed toilet cubicles is here:

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/3004/regulation/20/made

oh I didn't mean legally - I meant in order for me to find it acceptable

Ah, sorry! Yes, I agree with that!