Latest news with #SouthBank
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
‘I've been spat on': gender non-conforming women tell of toilet abuse in aftermath of supreme court ruling
Caz Coronel was standing in the queue for the ladies' at the Royal Festival Hall on London's South Bank when she registered a male voice shouting across the vestibule: 'The men's toilets are on this side!' At first the composer and producer paid little attention, until the man – whom Coronel describes as tall and in his late 60s – approached and touched her shoulder. He continued to challenge her about being in the wrong queue until she asked him bluntly: 'Do you want to see my tits?' 'It sounds funny, but at the time I was shocked,' she said. At that moment, another woman, who Coronel presumes was the man's wife, ushered him away. 'I have short hair and don't mind if people think I look male. I've often been called 'Sir' but when they see my face they either apologise or ask me politely what I like to be called. But I've never had anyone approach me before in such a publicly aggressive way.' 'What then flashed through my mind was: Is this what this ruling has done?' Since the supreme court's ruling on biological sex, debate around its practical application has focused heavily on access to women's toilet and changing facilities – in particular after initial advice on implementation from the equalities watchdog, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, amounted to a blanket ban on trans people using toilets of their lived gender, which many say in effect excludes them from public spaces. Critics of the ruling have suggested it may likewise affect cis women who do not adhere to a straight, white template of femininity. Support groups report some early indications that gender non-confirming women are facing increased challenges, raising wider questions about how women read each other's bodies and whether women's toilets have ever been entirely safe spaces. Others say these anxieties amount to scaremongering from those who do not agree with the judgment of the supreme court. Claire Prihartini was diagnosed with breast cancer a year and a half ago. 'I had a really lucky experience: I found out early, opted for a bilateral mastectomy and didn't need further treatment.' Her chest is now flat, with two small scars and no nipples. Last month, Prihartini was in the women's changing room area of her local pool. 'I was standing with my top off in front of the mirror putting on my swimming cap. Another woman walked in, gasped audibly and said: 'There's a man in here!' I said: 'Oh I'm not a man …' in a friendly way, then she said aggressively: 'You look like a man, there aren't meant to be men in here' and continued to look at my body. I didn't want to engage with her any further so I just walked off into the pool.' Prihartini, whose experience was first shared on social media by her husband, Jolyon Maugham, founder of the Good Law Project, is at pains to make clear that this was not 'a massively traumatic experience'. After she walked away the other woman did not continue to challenge her. Like Coronel, however, she links the incident directly to the supreme court ruling. 'It shocked me that someone felt empowered in the moment to question someone else's gender so rudely, that it's becoming normalised.' While many of the non-conforming women the Guardian spoke to said being challenged in women's spaces was by no means a new phenomenon for them, they added that they had identified an escalation since April's ruling. 'People who might have given me a look prior to the judgment have got quite bold in recent months,' says Dee, who did not want to give her second name. Dee was recently challenged by another woman in the changing rooms at Marks & Spencer, before unzipping her jacket to reveal her chest. 'She began to apologise but then she said: 'Well, you should be careful these days.' She seemed to mean: how dare I appear masculine?' Taranjit Chana of Black and Brown Rainbow, a grassroots anti-violence service, says their helpline has seen an increase in calls from black and Asian LGBTQ+ people who fear or have experienced challenge in toilets. 'Women's toilets have never felt entirely safe for black and brown women, because we don't fit that binary way of looking. In some communities, facial hair is part of who we are, but in public toilets people stare and feel it is acceptable to make remarks because we don't fit a narrow, European version of female.' Bridget Symonds, director of services at the LGBTQ+ anti-abuse charity Galop, said: 'Galop has seen a significant increase in trans+ and gender diverse people coming to our frontline services for hate crime support. We've seen instances where LGBT+ people are being challenged and verbally abused when attempting to access toilets in public spaces, such as pubs. We're hearing from cisgender lesbians who have been questioned about their gender in public toilets, something happening even before the ruling.' But some suggest these concerns are being overplayed. Jenny Willmott, co-founder of Scottish Lesbians, another gender critical group that intervened in support of the For Women Scotland case, says she has been challenged in women's toilets since she was a teenager. Willmott explains: 'I'm the best part of 6ft4in, short hair, don't wear makeup or skirts. Barely a week goes by that I don't get a double-take. Women glance in, see a 6ft body with short hair and think: 'Aah!'. But after the second glance they think 'Oh OK, it's a woman.'' For Willmott, 'it's just something that happens. It used to bother me because we do need to broaden the bandwidth of what a biological woman looks like'. Other women's experience of challenge is less straightforward. Nikki Lucas, who has short hair and usually wears a cap along with a shirt and trousers, says: 'If you're masculine presenting or butch lesbian, women's toilets are not a safe space. I've been spat on, screamed at and it's just so sad that this looks likely to get worse. 'The looks of hate, the feeling that you just don't know if you're going to be safe, have really got worse since the ruling, to the extent I now either ask a friend to come in with me or use the disabled toilet, which I feel bad about because it's preventing them from accessing it.' Coronel shared her Royal Festival Hall experience on social media afterwards: 'I've had so many messages from trans women who've lived fully as women, used women's facilities for 20 years or more, who are now scared that they'll be asked to prove themselves. It's really awful.' 'Now, more than ever, we need kindness and compassion and a genuine effort to understand each other, even towards those with prejudice.'
Telegraph
08-08-2025
- Telegraph
Met Police officers brawl in street after drunken boat party
A group of Metropolitan Police officers have been found guilty of fighting with a group of Romanians after the force's Christmas boat party. Kellsey Millar, 32, Alex Fackerell 31, Jack Sparkes, 34, Max Michaels-Dubois, 33, and Daniel Dean, 38, had been drinking heavily before they boarded a river boat in London for their Christmas party on December 1, 2023. The officers, all attached to the Met's Territorial Support Group, have been on 'restricted duties' since the incident. The Met said that 'misconduct proceedings' will be progressed now that convictions have been issued. Officers became 'aggressive' and started fighting The five officers had headed to the South Bank after their boat docked, where Fackerell got into a fight with a group of people waving Romanian flags, Inner London Crown Court heard. While he was being treated at a nearby restaurant after the fight, a different group of Romanians walked past and asked if he was alright in a mocking tone. Fackerell's colleagues then became aggressive and began fighting the group, with CCTV showing some of the officers throwing punches and pushing a man, causing him to fall backwards. Millar was blocked from entering the restaurant and grabbed Jheanelle Samuels, a female security guard, and kneed her in her left thigh, jurors were told, causing Samuels to punch the officer in self-defence. Sparkes, Michaels-Dubois and Dean were convicted of one count of affray. Millar was found guilty of one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, but was acquitted of affray. Fackerell was found not guilty of affray. Judge Rosina Cottage ordered pre-sentence reports and said 'all options are open, including imprisonment'. The four convicted officers were released on bail and will be sentenced at the court on October 22. Men 'presented no threat' to officer When cross-examined, Millar said she had an altercation with two males because she believed that they were threatening her and her friends, but she couldn't recall how drunk she was. She said: 'I then have a memory of having an interaction with a male and pushing him back and shouting at him to go away. I was scared.' Millar explained that she had felt threatened by the two men that the CCTV showed that she had an altercation with. She said: 'He was quite unsavoury to me. He displayed threatening body language. On the same basis as before I did push the male back to make space between myself and him.' Philip Stott, prosecuting, pointed out that on the CCTV the two men can be seen with their hands up and claimed that they 'presented no threat' to Millar. She said that she did not remember striking Ms Samuels with her knee, but she accepts that she did have an altercation with the guard. Mr Stott asked her if she had failed to call the police because she knew that it was her and her colleagues who had started the fight. 'Is it because you and your colleagues knew you had gone over the line? You also knew that you had been injured and you wanted to record them to protect yourself if things went any further?' Millar replied: 'I don't believe that was the case, no.' She said that her supervisor called her the next day to tell her that she knew she had been injured, and so she thought it would be dealt with. 'No excuse for their actions' None of the Romanians gave evidence in the trial, which relied on CCTV footage. Earlier Rebecca Dagett, who is defending Michaels-Dubois, asked DC Michaela Pearce if the police had taken steps to identify anyone else involved in the brawl, who said that no one came forward as part of an appeal. Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove, who leads the Met's Task Force, said: 'What was supposed to be a celebratory Christmas social event turned into a protracted altercation that saw officers involved in drunken fighting with numerous members of the public. 'The court did not dispute that before and during the incident, a number of officers were themselves assaulted and injured. But that is no excuse for their subsequent actions which showed a serious lack of self-control and fell well below the standards that we and the public rightly expect officers to hold themselves to, both on and off duty. 'The officers have all been on restricted duties, with misconduct proceedings paused, pending this trial. Those proceedings will now be progressed and the officers' status reviewed in light of the convictions.'
BBC News
04-08-2025
- BBC News
Middlesbrough school travel for autistic boy saved by donations
A school which could not provide an autistic boy with education after his "lifeline" minibus was destroyed in a break-in says it is overwhelmed by donations to help him travel Mackenzie Thorpe Centre school in South Bank, Middlesbrough, had its £50,000 minibus targeted by a thief on 19 Ford Tourneo van was stripped of its parts, causing £16,000 worth of the centre, run by the North East Autism Society (NEAS), said the donations meant its 12-year-old pupil Caleb could continue to be taken to and from school. The van, which had its bonnet, engine and tyres stolen during the break-in, was used to take Caleb on trips to local attractions, leisure facilities and school's interim principal Corrina McEwan said thanks to the "magnificent community response", Caleb could continue learning. The money, which includes a £10,000 donation from The Teesside Family Foundation, will go towards leasing a replacement vehicle for him until a permanent replacement is said: "We are incredibly grateful and overwhelmed by the generosity shown to us. We were devastated by what happened, but this means there will be limited disruption." Caleb's mum Sarah Bowman said the donation had helped "restore my faith in human nature"."They accepted Caleb when he was expelled from a different special needs school because of his extreme challenging behaviour, offering a more 'bespoke' community school environment, and this bus is his lifeline in accessing activities – it is his safe space," she school, which is named after Middlesbrough-born artist Mackenzie Thorpe, provides specialist education and care for autistic and neurodivergent children and adults across the Wedlake, from the volunteer-run Teesside Family Foundation, said: "As well as helping the school and NEAS, it is also a way of acknowledging the fantastic support Mackenzie Thorpe has given the foundation over the years."The foundation provides free holidays to families and specialist equipment for disabled children.A further £1,500 was donated by the Wainstones Hotel, at Great Broughton, while additional public donations were made through a GoFundMe Police said it was still investigating and urged anyone with information to contact the force. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Yahoo
£10k grant leads ‘amazing' response to break-in at school for autistic children
A school for autistic children has been 'overwhelmed' by the generous response to a break-in which robbed a vulnerable 12-year-old boy of a 'lifeline' minibus. Staff at The Mackenzie Thorpe Centre, run by the North East Autism Society (NEAS), were 'devastated' when a hooded raider broke into the Middlesbrough school last week. The thief dismantled the £50,000 Ford Tourneo, stealing the bonnet, engine parts, and tyres, causing £16,000 of damage. Interim Principal Corrina McEwan with the damaged van last week (Image: Chris Barron) It is primarily used to transport a pupil called Caleb to and from the South Bank school, as well as take him on trips to local attractions, leisure facilities, and parks. However, the losses have been covered by a magnificent community response, led by The Teesside Family Foundation, which came forward with a £10,000 donation. Tony Wedlake, who launched the foundation in 2017, visited the school on Wednesday, along with trustee, Richard Poole, to hand over the money. Left to right: Teesside Family Foundation trustee Richard Poole, Interim Principal Corrina McEwan, and Teesside Family Foundation founder Tony Wedlake at The Mackenzie Thorpe Centre (Image: Chris Barron) Tony said: 'The beauty of The Teesside Family Foundation is that we are able to respond quickly and the trustees supported the decision to make this donation within 24 hours of hearing about the terrible break-in. 'As well as helping the school and NEAS, it is also a way of acknowledging the fantastic support Mackenzie Thorpe has given the foundation over the years.' Richard added: 'It's disappointing that someone would do this to a charity but, thankfully, we've been able to step in quickly and make sure the school continues its vital support for local families.' A further £1,500 was donated by the Wainstones Hotel, at Great Broughton, while additional public donations were made through a GoFundMe appeal. Caleb's mum Sarah Bowman set up a separate appeal page and raised £420. She said: 'The Mackenzie Thorpe Centre has helped and supported our family in all ways possible. Caleb, the 12-year-old boy who relies on the minibus (Image: NEAS) 'They accepted Caleb when he was expelled from a different special needs school because of his extreme challenging behaviour, offering a more 'bespoke' community school environment, and this bus is his lifeline in accessing activities – it is his safe space. 'I can't thank everyone enough for their amazing response to the appeal – especially the Teesside Family Foundation. It has restored my faith in human nature.' Interim principal Corrina McEwan said: 'We are incredibly grateful and overwhelmed by the generosity shown to us. We were devastated by what happened, but this means there will be limited disruption, and Caleb can continue his learning journey without feeling any impact.' The school is named in honour of Middlesbrough-born artist Mackenzie Thorpe, who is a NEAS patron. Most read: Reform councillor steps down after a month so wife can enter garden competition Planning bosses investigating after 200-year-old County Durham building 'destroyed' The faces of Jack Woodley's ten young killers all unmasked for the first time He said: 'This crime was heartbreaking but I never doubted for a moment that the people of Teesside would come together. 'Their kindness, and the incredible generosity of the Teesside Family Foundation, shine brighter than any darkness. "To know that this wonderful school can continue its work, and that Caleb and other children won't miss out on those precious days out because of such a mindless act, means everything.' Since it was launched, The Teesside Family Foundation – run entirely by volunteers – has raised £1.5m. Its support includes providing free holidays to 140 families every year, as well as providing specialist equipment for disabled children, and giving annual grants to around 50 grass roots sport clubs.
BBC News
31-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Send your pictures and stories of why you love Wolves
On Monday, we asked you to tell us why you fell in love with Wolves and some of your favourite moments supporting have already been getting in touch with your photos and stories and here is just a taste from Alex:"In 1990, I was five years old and I went to my first game: Wolves v Plymouth. I was on my dad's shoulders in the old South Bank. A huge old-fashioned terrace, one of only two stands. The stadium, like the club, was unloved and struggling. "I grew up in Wolverhampton and could see the ground from my house. As a city it was, and probably still is, in decline. It hasn't recovered from the loss of major manufacturing in the city. The city, like its football team, had little to be proud of in those days."That would change when a former bricklayer from the Black Country, bought for a pittance from our fierce local rivals, burst on the scene. Like many, I idolised Steve Bull. The word 'hero' doesn't cover it. He played how every fan wanted him to. Chased every lost cause, never pulled out of a challenge and scored for fun."Being a Wolves fan, you get used to modest success but it's ours. No tourist fans, VAR goes against us and the press barely pay attention. But it's our club. A one-club city."So join the conversation and send your best photos about why you love first visit to the stadium? A special kit? An amazing away trip?Send us your pictures and stories
