Topshop and Topman have responded to criticism after a trans shopper was told they couldn’t use the women’s changing rooms, announcing all changing rooms will now be gender-neutral.
Travis Alabanza, a performer, was refused entry to changing rooms in Topshop in Manchester, being told instead to use the male changing rooms in Topman downstairs.
Who made you in charge of deciding who is woman enough to use ur changing room? U just lost an easy sale and money.
— Travis (@travisalabanza) 5 November 2017
Following the incident, Alabanza took to Twitter to confront the retailer: “Hey @Topshop just experienced transphobia in your Manchester store. Not letting me use the changing room I decide is shit, sort it out.”
Alabanza added that gender-specific changing rooms put trans people at risk of harassment from other shoppers.
https://twitter.com/B00B_DYLAN/status/927219506220617728
The tweet accusation sparked a debate which prompted the retailer to respond, stating that its changing rooms were in face all gender-neutral.
The policy was changed during summer, but some staff were reportedly not properly informed of the changes.
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