Popular UK festival angers fans with 'discriminatory' trans toilet policy
Following the UK Supreme Court's ruling in favour of For Women Scotland, Download festival shared its new policy to exclude trans people from their preferred bathrooms
Download festival has caused a major uproar online after it made a controversial stance on attendee safety. The rock and metal festival in Donnington Park, Leicestershire, will host headliners Green Day, Poppy, and KoRn featuring Weezer, Sex Pistols with Frank Carter, and more between June 13 and 15.
However, instead of the usual guidelines warning of heatwaves and crowds, Download festival has attempted to assure customers on their safety via bathrooms, promising to abide by biological toilets.
The festival said in a statement: "We are proud of the reputation the Download community has in terms of diversity, and will always look to promote the safety and comfort of all festival attendees, including transgender and non-binary customers," before adding that they "will be following the interim guidance by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission on April 25, 2025".
This guidance 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".
Their new implementation appears to be influenced by the UK's Supreme Court's ruling in favour of the so-called 'gender critical' volunteer organisation For Women Scotland. This ruling defined 'woman' as a term categorised by a person's sex alone, thereby excluding the trans and non-binary communities from everyday spaces, such as public bathrooms.
Ironically, the festival will be held right in the middle of Pride month, and trans acts and allies are not happy. Musician and singer, NOAHFINNCE took to socials on May 27 to speak out against the festival's policy. He posted on his Instagram story, writing: "Hey @downloadfest, what the f--k are you doing inviting trans people to play your festival but not allowing them the simple right of using the correct bathroom?"
The singer also added that they had "a great time playing last year but will not be attending again if [they] have to queue up for the ladies' bathroom". Outraged over his "trans sisters hav[ing] to risk outing themselves in the men's bathroom," Noah stated that "all this does is put trans people in danger".
Having came out to the public as a transgender man in 2017, he called others to join him in holding the festival accountable, writing: "If you're playing @downloadfest, attending it or even just aware of it, say something about it".
NOAHFINNCE also tweeted on X, adding: "What the f--k are you doing? How have you got the gall to invite trans people like me to play your festival and then ban them from using the toilet? If the only way we can piss is by outing ourselves then you've created an unsafe environment".
The festival 's previous act, American rock band, Pinkshift, also said that whilst playing at Download last year was "fun," the new decision is "crazy and so unsafe". On their Instagram story, they said: "What f--king music festival polices gendered bathrooms?" They proceeded to thank Noah "for being the only artist [they]'ve seen talk about this… if Download is part of your life then speak up, they think they can get away with discrimination in the ripe year of 2025".
In response, Download told NME they "want everyone to feel safe, supported and welcome at the festival" and reassured festival goers that "the majority of toilets will be gender neutral and available to all" and that single sex toilets will also be 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," the statement concluded. The Mirror have reached out to Download festival for a response.
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