A public confrontation over access to single-sex facilities erupted at an awards ceremony in central London on Friday night, leading to two transgender women being escorted from the venue by security.
Confrontation in the Casino Toilets
The incident took place at the Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square during an event hosted by the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Not All Gays. According to the group's president and co-founder, Annaïg Birdy, the dispute began when an attendee, Octavia Evans, entered the female toilets and saw two transgender women inside.
Feeling uncomfortable, Evans alerted casino security but was reportedly told "nothing could be done" because the individuals were "dressed like women." In response, a group of approximately six women, including Birdy and Evans, returned to the toilet area to ask the two individuals to leave.
"We entered together, not to argue, but to assert our lawful right to single-sex spaces," Annaïg Birdy explained to the Daily Mail. "We did so as a group because confronting two adult males alone in a confined space is plainly unsafe, regardless of how those males personally identify."
Escalation and Ejection
Video footage of the subsequent argument, later shared on social media and reposted by author J.K. Rowling, shows a heated exchange inside the toilet area. A security guard can be seen attempting to mediate as voices are raised.
In the video, people can be heard stating they feel "uncomfortable" and describing the pair as "men in the women's toilets." The two transgender women eventually agreed to leave with security. However, as they were being escorted out, one threatened a woman by saying, "I will smack the s*** out of you," while the other added, "I'll show you what a man is."
Birdy stated these threats demonstrated "precisely why women do not feel safe when male people are permitted into female-only spaces based solely on self-identification." She emphasised that the Hippodrome provides gender-neutral toilets on every floor, which she said the pair could have used.
Legal Context and Venue Response
The incident touches on the complex legal landscape surrounding single-sex spaces. Under the Equality Act 2010, service providers can sometimes restrict access to single-sex spaces on the basis of biological sex if it is a "proportionate" means of achieving a legitimate aim.
This was clarified by a Supreme Court ruling last year, though detailed guidance for businesses is still pending. Annaïg Birdy criticised "ongoing delays" in issuing updated guidance, which she said leaves venues "uncertain and unsupported" in enforcing such provisions.
In a statement, the Hippodrome Casino confirmed it is "an inclusive venue" that takes guest safety and comfort seriously. The venue acknowledged its team intervened to resolve the situation and confirmed it provides separate women's, men's, and gender-neutral toilet facilities. It declined to comment on the specific identities of those involved.
The debate, captured in this late-night clash, underscores the deeply held and often conflicting views on gender identity, biological sex, and the law that continue to cause tension in public life across the UK.
