Row as M&S ‘bars transgender shopper from changing rooms’

MARKS & Spencer has been accused of transphobia after a customer was allegedly told they could not use a changing room.

Disability rights activist and Silent Witness actress Liz Carr and her wife hit out at the retailer yesterday after revealing their transgender friend was at the centre of the row.

The unnamed customer – who identifies as male – was said to have been refused entry to the fitting room by three staff, with one saying ‘it’s not like Europe’.

An M&S spokesman last night insisted transgender people are encouraged to use ‘ whatever changing rooms they feel comfortable in’.

Miss Carr’s wife Jo Church wrote to the company on Twitter after visiting its Oxford Street store with her trans friend, writing: ‘Shocked & disgusted as workers @marksandspencer refused entry to #trans friend in changing room.

‘Told “it’s not like it is in Europe y’know”. What does that even MEAN?!??’ She added: ‘There were 3 different people that told us that – 2 of varying different managerial levels as we asked to see the manager when refused entry. There is no place for #transphobia in our society.

‘Big corporations like @marksandspencer should lead by example.’ Miss Carr, 45, who married Miss Church in 2010 and stars in the BBC’s Silent Witness, posted the remarks to her 16,000 followers on Twitter, adding: ‘Sigh … I bloody love @marksandspencer normally … but this happening to a friend of ours is just rubbish.

‘M&S please look at your staff’s actions and question your offensive treatment of trans customers using changing rooms .# Its Always Your Fight # SilentWitness.’ The row comes six months after M&S was forced to change its lavatory signs following complaints of sexism. A customer had complained on Facebook that the female toilet sign showed a woman with a baby, whilst the male one showed only a man. The resulting change prompted ridicule from many older shoppers.

In November, Topshop was forced to remove gender-specific changing rooms after complaints from trans customers.

But it then received hundreds of complaints from women saying they would not feel comfortable undressing in front of the opposite sex in mixed fitting rooms.

An M&S spokesman said: ‘ Our changing rooms are available for all customers to use with respect to other customers’ privacy. We urge the customer to contact our customer services team so we can investigate this as a priority.’