After a previous email regarding their toilets policy received backlash from NOAHFINNCE, Pinkshift, Witch Fever and festival fans, Download have confirmed that “the majority of toilets will be gender neutral and available to all”.
Download Festival have clarified their stance on toileting, following a backlash yesterday (May 27) that previously said they would be “following the interim guidance issued by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)” which “states that ‘trans women (biological men) should not be permitted to use the women’s facilities and trans men (biological women) should not be permitted to use the men’s facilities’”.
Today, May 28, the festival have responded to a public backlash – including NOAHFINNCE, Pinkshift and Witch Fever, the former calling it an “unsafe environment” for trans people, were the policy to stand – and confirmed that bathrooms aren not going to be policed in this manner.
“At the heart of Download is acceptance – we stand with all members of our community and want everyone to feel safe, supported and welcome at the festival,” the statement reads.
“We want to reassure all of our customers that at Download, the majority of toilets will be gender neutral and available to all. There will also be single sex toilets provided. Download Festival has always been and remains for everyone.
“We sincerely apologise that a previous communication on this was not clear. We are looking forward to seeing you at Download this year.”
See Noah, Pinkshift and Witch Fever’s comments about the situation yesterday, before today’s update:
