Somerset House is embroiled in a gender-neutral row as staff accuse ‘pronoun people’ of stealthily abolishing women’s toilets.
The 450-year-old office, studio and events complex in central London has added ‘all-gender’ stickers alongside male and female logos to toilets.
Bosses say this is designed to create a “safe space” for attendees, particularly those with minority gender identities who are “overlooked” by segregated facilities.
But it has sparked a backlash from some experts, who say there are now no women-only toilets left thanks to campaigners rushing to make changes without consultation.
“Very artistic London”
A Somerset House source told The Telegraph: “There are no ladies-only bathrooms – they are all marked with the ladies sign and then the all-gender sticker.
“I’m unhappy with them and I’ve brought it up and found out. A lot of the staff are pronouns and it’s very artsy London.
“If someone can use the toilet based on an invisible and unchallenged subjective gender identity, then what should we do if a boy is there?”
Somerset House says it is now home to “the UK’s largest creative community”, including several small businesses, after starting out as a palace on the banks of the River Thames near Waterloo in 1553 for a young queen Elizabeth I
Earlier this month, a set of toilets in the building next to the Watch House cafe sparked a backlash on social media after it was discovered that the women’s toilets were open to all genders, but men they were single sex, after the “all genders” sign appeared. drop.
“It’s not interesting that it always seems like a mistake that affects women negatively,” the Somerset House source said.
Government plans for separate toilets
It comes as ministers are working to ensure all new office buildings, schools, hospitals and entertainment venues must have separate toilets for men and women.
The plans, announced earlier this month by Kemi Badenoch when she was equalities minister, follow concerns from women with pregnancy and health needs that they are losing privacy and being unfairly disadvantaged.
Separate unisex toilets will be allowed if there is space, but should not come at the expense of female toilets, under proposed changes to building regulations and guidelines.
Somerset House’s “safe space” diversity policy, which hosts many arts events, says that “by entering Somerset House you agree to respect any body, dress, gender, sexual orientation, race, belief and experience”.
Those entering the building are asked to “not make assumptions about anyone’s gender and to avoid using terms such as ‘sir’, ‘sir’, ‘mam’, ‘sir'”.
“It can be interpreted as sexist”
The diversity policy, included in the terms and conditions of all ticket purchases, also says that visitors should “be mindful of your own behaviour, including the use of gender terms”, as this “may be interpreted as sexist”.
Somerset House did not respond to a request for comment. Restrooms in the building without male or female signs are understood to be divided into individual rooms, however, most of those marked single-sex plus “all-gender” are not.
Gender-neutral facilities have grown in popularity in recent years as organizations try to demonstrate that they are inclusive of transgender people.