Topshop just got rid of gender-specific changing rooms
Topshop has made a big move to promote gender equality: Stores will have gender-neutral changing rooms.
The retailer did not return Yahoo Lifestyle’s request for comment; however, on Wednesday, a representative told the Daily Mail, “All TOPSHOP TOPMAN customers are free to use any of the fitting rooms located within our stores.”
The news dropped only days after customer Travis Alabanza, a performance artist who, according to BuzzFeed, identifies as trans feminine and uses the pronoun “they,” was prevented from entering a Topshop women’s changing room.
A post shared by Travis (@travisalabanza) on Nov 3, 2017 at 5:22am PDT
“I normally online shop for this reason,” Alabanza told the publication. “But we were going in a group [to an event] so I thought it would be fun to go shopping in a group. We were in quite a good mood and all found outfits that we all wanted to wear.”
That day, Alabanza was wearing a dress and makeup and after waiting in line for the women’s room, was told by a store clerk and a manager to use the rooms one floor down at Topman. “I said, ‘I’m not going to be safe down there. What do you want me to do?’ and they just kind of shrugged,” Alabanza told BuzzFeed.
Hey @Topshop just experienced transphobia in your Manchester store. Not letting me use the changing room I decide is shit, sort it out.
— Travis (@travisalabanza) November 5, 2017
Gendered changing rooms , effect and put queer and trans shoppers at risk from harassment from other shoppers. It's dated and dangerous
— Travis (@travisalabanza) November 5, 2017
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) November 5, 2017
Later that day, Alabanza tweeted the following note. “Hey @topshop, I just experienced transphobia in your Manchester store. Not letting me use the changing room I decide is s***, sort it out.”
Many of Alabanza’s supporters offered their support, with one sharing a photo of all-gender fitting rooms at Urban Outfitters, as a positive example.
Here's an example @TopShopUK of @UrbanOutfitters not being shitty with their changing rooms – look how easy it is??? pic.twitter.com/mqkHkfkP2A
— Travis (@travisalabanza) November 6, 2017
However, there’s been confusion over how long Topshop has maintained gender-neutral changing rooms. One Twitter user responded to Alabanza’s tweet with a screenshot of a July email from the store, which read in part, “We do not tolerate discrimination in any form” in response to an unspecified incident.
@Topshop @TopshopHelp why is this still happening if you've reviewed your policy? Honestly there are only so many times you can apologise – pic.twitter.com/k1tHEa6kzO
— terfs r all uglie (@B00B_DYLAN) November 5, 2017
Another follower posted a note in what appears to be from Topshop, stating that, “At this time, our changing rooms are gender-specific. However, we expect our staff to be sensitive to the needs of our customers…”
this is the bullshit reply i got – clearly they need some actual lgbt+ (especially t) training at some level ffs pic.twitter.com/7wsU81Teus
— shit face (@pipsuxx) November 5, 2017
Yahoo Lifestyle reached out to Alabanza for comment but did not hear back.
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