Ferry ‘Humiliates’ Transgender Woman With ‘Ladies And Gents’ Toilet Signs
A ferry operator has been forced to change all the signs on its toilet doors after a transgender woman claimed she was “humiliated” by staff.
Erin Bisson, a taxi driver formerly known as Robert, said staff told her to use the disabled toilets, rather than the ladies.
Miss Bisson told the Jersey Employment and Discrimination Tribunal that she had been discriminated against by ferry firm Condor.
The company admitted there had been a “non-intentional and non-malicious act of discrimination”.
It agreed to remove the words ‘ladies’ and ‘gentlemen’ from all toilet doors and replace them with the gender symbols, the Evening Standard reports.
Condor now has until June 30 to implement the changes.
The company said staff have also been trained in how to deal sensitively with transgender customers.
Ms Bisson said she was “humiliated” after a staff member told her over the phone that she would have to use the disabled toilets on her journey.
Ms Bisson had called up to avoid being humiliated
The 40-year-old taxi driver said: “I’m transgender. Rather that just going to use the ladies toilets I phoned up Condor before I sailed to St Malo advising them as such.
“They are the ones that own the toilets and decide who uses their facilities. I did not want to be humiliated. Condor said the only facility I should be using are the disabled facilities.”
Ms Bisson said the whole incident left her "completely embarrassed”.
A panel found that “Ms Bisson’s complaints of discrimination are well founded” and agreed that the recommendations drawn up by Condor would “remedy” her complaint.
Following the resolution, Ms Bisson said: “What is important is a lesson has been learned by Condor. As much as I dislike the fact that I had to take the action that I did, I have to respect Condor because they put their hands up, said they were wrong and have made changes. I only hope other companies take Condor’s lead.”
A Condor spokesman said: “These measures were then approved by both the complainant and the tribunal and we have been happy to implement all actions to their satisfaction.”
Picture from Rex Features/Facebook
