The Hatfield mum of a transgender teenager has spoken out after a WGC school opened unisex toilets last week.
Tracy Chapman, 45, believes that in all public places there should be at least one single-use toilet that anybody can use so everyone can feel comfortable.
The mum-of-six, who has two grandchildren, has a 14-year-old son called Danny who is transgender.
Sir Frederic Osborn School opened a unisex toilet last Monday, but Tracy says that it still does not cater for transsexual teens as boys use the left side and girls use the right.
Tracy said: “Transgender people still have to decide what side they feel comfortable using so it doesn’t stop that issue.”
Danny was born a girl and used to be called Kiera.
He first came out as gay to his mum when he was 12 and at 13 he told her that he wanted to be a boy.
Tracy added: “I was so glad he finally opened up and told me because I’d always known.
“Growing up, Danny always played like the boys did and wanted to dress like them.”
Danny attends Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School in Woods Avenue, but Tracy said that being in a girls school had never been an issue.
She said: “The teachers and staff are absolutely amazing and have been so supportive.”
Danny, who has autism, continues to wear the traditional uniform with a skirt despite an option to wear trousers.
Tracy explained: “Due to his autism he is very picky about which trousers he wears but for now he is happy.”
There are currently no unisex toilets at the school, but he has been allowed to use the disabled toilet.
When changing for PE he can change in the toilets but chooses to change with his female friends who are “an amazing network around him”.
Tracy explained that for Danny, the issues with toilets occur while out in public places.
Over a weekend earlier this month, the family went to Paradise Wildlife Park and Danny felt too intimidated to go into the men’s toilet so queued for the women’s loos but received “weird looks” from females.
She said: “If there was just single-use toilets in public places as well as men’s and women’s loos, transgender people wouldn’t feel uncomfortable.”
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