Nurses sue employer for allowing trans women to use their locker rooms

Eight nurses are suing their employer for sexual harassment and gender discrimination over a policy allowing trans women to use their women’s locker rooms.

The legal action began after 26 nurses wrote to County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust to raise their concerns in March.

Nurses, who work at Darlington Memorial Hospital, have to change their gowns twice a day, without a private cubicle.

They say some international nurses wanted to sign the letter but were too worried about having their visas revoked and losing their jobs.

Bethany Hutchison, one of the claimants, says they felt unsafe because of a male staff member who identifies as a woman and has not transitioned.

She said: “There have been occasions when I’ve been alone in the changing room with this colleague who looks very masculine and it’s been a real shock because you feel like you want to challenge them, you think, ‘Oh, there’s a man in the changing room’, but you can’t because of trust policy.”

Learn more: Transgender people can be treated in their own rooms if patients request single-space rooms

Nurses “need to be re-educated”

One of the nurses who opposed the hospital’s policy is a woman who was a victim of sexual abuse and says the trans colleague’s presence in an enclosed space triggers her PTSD.

Another woman, Lisa Lockey, told Sky News: “We’re just regular nurses. Is it too much to ask for a private changing room where you feel comfortable?”

Lisa says their department manager was called into a meeting with HR and senior hospital officials and told the nurses needed to be “re-educated.”

The situation has worsened, with Harry Potter author JK Rowling speaking out very openly on trans issues and shadow health secretary Wes Streeting posting messages of support for nurses.

The Labour Party spokesman said on X: “I support the nurses and I’m horrified that they’ve had to resort to legal action. We need to find a better way and I’d be happy to meet them. We need to find a way out of this by treating people with respect and respecting safe spaces for women.”

The nurses are supported in their procedure by the Christian Legal Center.

Ambiguity in the Equality Act 2010

Its chief executive, Andrea Williams, said: “This case and the Cass Review demonstrate how transgender ideology has led to a public health crisis, not just for vulnerable children and patients on the wards, but now also for NHS staff who are simply trying to do their jobs.”

Under the Equality Act 2010, it is illegal to discriminate against anyone because of their sex. Some interpret sex to refer strictly to biological sex, while others believe it also applies to transgender people who have a Gender Recognition Certificate.

The Conservatives have said they will amend the Equality Act to make it clear, in this context, that it only applies to biological sex.

They hope it will prevent trans women from accessing single-sex spaces such as changing rooms. Keir Starmer says the Equality Act does not need to be changed, but says he is committed to protecting single-sex spaces.

Fear hurts everyone

Balancing transgender rights with women’s rights has been a hot topic throughout this election campaign, but Cleo Madeleine, head of public engagement at transgender charity Gendered Intelligence, says people need to be more accepting of transgender people.

“Including transgender people doesn’t hurt anyone, what hurts everyone is this fear that has been stoked and it doesn’t just hurt transgender people, it hurts everyone,” Cleo said.

A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust said: “The trust would like to emphasize that at this stage the claims made are allegations which must be fully investigated and examined.

“The trust has initiated this process through its internal processes and this work is ongoing. However, as the allegations are now also the subject of active legal proceedings, it would not be appropriate for the trust to comment further at this stage.”