Farmers makes changing rooms gender neutral after claim assistant ridiculed trans shopper

Mary Haddock-Staniland said she was singled out for rude treatment.

Farmers plans to make all its changing-rooms gender-neutral following a complaint by a transgender shopper who was ridiculed by a shop assistant while trying on shorts.

Spokeswoman Nikki Newton-Cross says the company has reviewed its fitting rooms policies and decided to make its fitting rooms gender-neutral following Mary Haddock-Staniland's experience at their Botany branch in Auckland last month.

Mrs Mary Haddock-Staniland says she overheard a shop assistant ask colleagues if it was okay to let "half-man, half-woman" in.

She says the staff member was rude from the start, laughed at her and repeated her slurs to other customers.

"The way she singled me out made me feel as if I shouldn't be there ... I'm disgusted, I'm a strong transgender advocate in the community."

Mrs Haddock-Staniland, who has met with Farmers over the incident, said she was initially quite upset and angry at how she was treated by the shopkeeper. "But after talking with Farmers I'm feeling better about the situation."

Ms Newton-Cross says Farmers has apologised to Mrs Haddock-Staniland and has also re-iterated to its staff how all customers should be treated.

The company is currently reviewing its signage to ensure its reflective of its gender-neutral policy.

Mrs Haddock-Staniland says she has also lodged a complaint with the New Zealand Human Rights Commission.

The results of this are expected to come out next month.

When the incident was first reported Mrs Haddock-Staniland was praised by Human Rights Commissioner Richard Tankersley for going public.

He said what happened to her was not new, but rather highlighted the "bullying and hate" that transgender New Zealanders faced often.

However, senior law lecturer at Victoria University Catherine Iorns said from the description of what happened, it was unclear if the incident was illegal discrimination under the Human Rights Act.

"She was treated that way because she appeared a certain way, no matter whether she was physically male or female."

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