Thursday 19 May 2022 02:22 PM Woman, 22, barred from ladies toilets in M&S after staff mistook her for a man trends now
Marks & Spencer has been forced to apologise after an over-zealous staff member refused to let a young woman use the ladies toilet because they thought she was a man.
Tay Beales, 22, accused the retail giant of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community and those with hidden disabilities, after the epilepsy sufferer was also denied entry into the disabled facilities.
She said she was left 'embarrassed' and 'humiliated' by the ordeal, adding that all she wanted to do was go to the toilet.
M&S has since apologised to Ms Beales and said it has a 'zero tolerance approach to discrimination' across their stores.
Ms Beales, from Exeter, Devon, was out shopping with her girlfriend Freya Baldwinson, 26, on Tuesday, when she claims the pair needed to go to the bathroom.
Ms Beales went to use the disabled toilets but claims an M&S staff member at the Exeter store stepped in and told her: 'You're not disabled', before ordering her to use the male bathrooms.
She claims she walked into the facilities to find a man 'with his genitals out' - before she exited and rushed into the women's toilets.
But as she waited for a cubicle, she claims the same member of staff was convinced she was 'a boy' so refused to let her use the ladies and told her to use the disabled loos - before calling her 'him' to a member of the public.
Ms Beales said: 'This is an example of homophobia as well as disability discrimination. She clearly had a problem with everything as she kept ushering me to different toilets.
Tay Beales (pictured), 22, accused the M&S of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community and those with hidden disabilities, after the epilepsy sufferer was denied entry into both the disabled and women's toilets
Ms Beales, from Exeter, Devon, was out shopping with her girlfriend Freya Baldwinson (pictured together), 26, on Tuesday, when she claims the pair needed to go to the bathroom.
The incident unfolded at the M&S store in Exeter, Devon (pictured)
'I've been misgendered before but it wasn't malicious. This lady was completely rude, it was the way she was ushering me from one place to the other.
'It's embarrassing and humiliating. There are five toilets in use in the women's toilets so everyone could hear it as well.
'I just want to spread awareness for people with hidden disabilities and LGBTQ community because we shouldn't be treated differently.
'I want people to be aware of it and help people in the future.'
The couple were browsing in the home section when they stopped by the toilets.
It was then the incident occurred, which Ms Beales said left her feeling 'uncomfortable' and 'cr**py'.
Ms Beales said: 'Me and my
