An argument broke out at an awards show in London after two transgender women were filmed using the venue’s female toilets.
The confrontation, which was filmed by attendees and circulated on social media, took place inside the Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square during the annual awards for the Not All Gays group on Friday night.
Annaïg Birdy, president and co-founder of the group – which promotes the rights of lesbian, gay and bisexual people – told the Daily Mail the argument began when a young woman spotted the pair in the toilets.
The woman alerted security but they told her ‘nothing could be done’ and instead a group of around six women entered the toilets to ask the transgender women to leave, Annaïg explained.
‘Six women, myself included, entered together, not to argue, but to assert our lawful right to single-sex spaces. We did so as a group because confronting two adult males alone in a confined space is plainly unsafe, regardless of how those males personally identify,’ she added.
Both transgender women were eventually escorted out by security staff, during which one shouted at one of the women ‘I will smack the s*** out of you’ before the second added: ‘I’ll show you what a man is.’
The incident was captured on video by Octavia Evans – the woman who first alerted security about the presence of the transgender women in the toilet.
In a post about the incident on X, which was later reposted by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, she said: ‘Women are not people who wear make-up or dresses, they are adult human females and they deserve single sex spaces.’
A transgender woman is seen confronting a group of women during a row in the female toilets of the Hippodrome Casino in London
The transgender woman and another woman can be seen arguing as a security guard (right) tries to intervene
Recalling the confrontation, Annaïg told the Daily Mail that Octavia spotted the two transgender women using the toilet as the awards night was coming to a close.
‘They were not simply using the facilities and leaving, but were sitting at the mirrors and talking for an extended period,’ she said.
‘Feeling uncomfortable, she left the toilets to alert security and was told that nothing could be done because the men were “dressed like women”. We are unclear what that means, given “woman” is not a dress code.
‘Given that there are clearly signposted gender-neutral toilets on every floor of the casino, and that access to female-only facilities is lawfully restricted by sex under the Equality Act 2010, a small group of young women, mostly lesbian and bisexual women, accompanied Octavia back to the toilets to ask the men to leave.’
Last year’s Supreme Court ruling – that clarified the definition of a woman in equality law is based on biological sex – means trans women with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) can be excluded from single-sex spaces if ‘proportionate’.
But there has been little clarification as to what this means in practice and businesses are still waiting for guidance to inform their provision of single and separate-sex services, such as toilets and changing rooms, following the ruling in April.
Annaïg continued: ‘Six women, myself included, entered together, not to argue, but to assert our lawful right to single-sex spaces.
‘We did so as a group because confronting two adult males alone in a confined space is plainly unsafe, regardless of how those males personally identify.’
The two transgender women (pictured) were eventually escorted out by security staff
But as they are being escorted out, one can be heard telling one woman: ‘I’ll show you what a man is’.
Footage of the incident shows the group of women arguing with the transgender pair inside the female toilets as a member of security attempts to resolve the situation.
A number of people can be heard telling the staff member they are ‘men in the women’s toilets’ and saying they feel ‘uncomfortable’ with their presence there.
‘You’re a man, why are you in the women’s loo? Why do you feel the need to be in here with women?’ one person asks, before the security guard intervenes and urges them all to ‘relax’.
The pair of transgender women eventually agree to leave to toilets before being escorted out by security, at which point one can be heard threatening to ‘smack the s*** out of’ one of the women, before the other trans woman tells another person: ‘I’ll show you what a man is’.
‘These threats demonstrate precisely why women do not feel safe when male people are permitted into female-only spaces based solely on self-identification,’ Annaïg said.
‘The existence of gender-neutral facilities did not resolve the situation; instead, the men involved disregarded the law upon accessing women’s toilets and responded with intimidation and threats of violence when challenged.
‘This shows clearly that “third spaces” are not a solution when women’s spaces and boundaries are treated as optional.’
Annaïg said the situation ‘was entirely avoidable’, adding that ‘ongoing delays’ to issue updated guidance from the European Court of Human Rights following the Supreme Court ruling ‘have left service providers and frontline staff uncertain and unsupported in enforcing lawful single-sex provisions’.
The Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square, where the incident took place. It has since confirmed it provides both women’s and men’s toilet facilities as well as gender-neutral toilets
She added: ‘Where venues provide women’s, men’s and gender-neutral facilities, they are entitled to protect single-sex spaces where requested, in order to ensure safety, dignity and privacy for all users.
‘Women and girls asserting their rights under the law are not required to be placid, deferential or silent, nor should we obliged to confront adult males alone in spaces specifically designated for females.
‘The discomfort of trans-identifying men in using the men’s toilets does not override women’s legal rights to their own spaces. In 2026, women and gay people cannot be expected to simply remain silent when their boundaries are being crossed, for the comfort of those who identify as trans.’
The Hippodrome has since confirmed it provides both women’s and men’s toilet facilities as well as gender-neutral toilets.
It said in a statement: ‘The Hippodrome is an inclusive venue and we take the safety, privacy and comfort of all guests seriously.
‘We’re aware of the footage circulating from Friday night. Our team intervened after concerns were raised in the toilets area and the situation was brought to a close.
‘As this involves private individuals and a sensitive incident, we won’t be commenting on specific identities or personal details.’
