Butlin’s has suspended two security guards who, it’s alleged, ‘violently dragged’ a group of trans women from women’s toilets.
The group were at Bang Face, a two-day electronic music event, at the chain’s Skegness holiday camp on October 5 when it’s said the incident happened.
Butlin’s has since said it was ‘very disappointed’ with the way the situation was handled and that the guards – who were contracted – didn’t follow the firm’s ‘processes’.
It removed the guards from the event – a move criticised by author J.K. Rowling – and is investigating.
One event goer, Jae Roberts, posted on Instagram to say they were targeted by a security guard for intervening.
They wrote: ‘Butlins security just dragged five trans people out of the women’s toilets.
‘Got slammed against a wall and dragged downstairs for intervening.
‘Everyone in the toilets was chanting “let them pee”.
They added: ‘Security escalated the situation without any physical provocation – they called in 10 security guards as reinforcements before starting to drag people out.
‘I personally was dragged down a flight of stairs by two security guards.’
The incident allegedly started when a security guard followed a person into the women’s toilets and told them to leave because they were a man.
Several people have commented on social media, some supporting the trans women and Butlin’s’ decision to suspend the guards, and others criticising the company’s move.
Among the latter is Ms Rowling. She wrote on X: ‘Does Butlin’s think the desire of cross-dressing men to enter women-only spaces is more important than women’s and girls’ right to privacy and dignity?
‘Hopefully Butlin’s will explain their policy, so women and families can make an informed choice about where to go on holiday.’
One poster, Eilidh, said her friend was one of the five women. She described the actions of the guards as ‘sickening transphobic behaviour’.
Butlin’s responded to her post to say the company ‘takes things like this very seriously’, that they were in contact with the trans women and looking into what happened.
In a statement, a Butlin’s spokesperson told the Metro: ‘We were very concerned to hear about this incident. Much to our disappointment, our third-party security contractor did not follow our processes despite being thoroughly briefed.
‘Once we were made aware they were immediately removed from duty for not handling the situation in line with our processes. We are in direct contact with those involved and are reviewing how we work with contractors.’
The firm said that the guards’ suspension had nothing to do with the trans women’s gender identity – instead it was due to the way they were allegedly removed from the toilets.
It’s not been made clear what Butlin’s policy is regarding trans women in women’s toilets.
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