Huge music festival clarifies stance after being slammed by Manchester band in trans bathroom row
Download Festival had faced backlash over its trans bathroom status
A big music festival has been forced to clarify its stance after former performers asked 'what the **** are you doing' in a statement regarding trans people using bathrooms at its event.
Earlier this week, Download Festival faced backlash online after a response from the event’s team was shared on social media where it was suggested that the festival would be adhering to government guidance preventing trans women from using women’s facilities and trans men from using men’s facilities.
In April, the Supreme Court ruled that the legal definition of the terms ‘woman’ and ‘sex’ in the 2010 Equality Act should be entirely based on 'biological woman and biological sex'. The decision was met with protests across the country, with allies in Manchester describing it as a 'frightening' moment for trans people and the wider LGBTQ+ community.
In communication with festival goers this week, organisers of Download Festival said whilst they would ensure ‘the safety and comfort of all festival attendees including transgender and non-binary customers’, it would also be ‘following the interim guidance issued by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission’.
In a statement later shared with the M.E.N., the festival has since clarified its position. It said the wording used in original communications 'was not clear' and it reassured festivalgoers that it 'has always been and remains for everyone', with toilets 'available to all'.
The festival, which takes place at Donington Park in Derby from June 13 to 15, will feature headline performers. Green Day, Sleep Token and Korn. Acts including Weezer, Sex Pistols with Frank Carter, Bullet for my Valentine, The Darkness and Steel Panther will also perform across the three days.
After its original post, however, trans musician Noahfinnce, who performed at Download last year, was among the first to hit back and posted: “Hey @DownloadFest what the **** are you doing.
“How have you got the gall to invite trans people like me to play your festival and then ban them from using the toilet? If the only way we can **** is by outing ourselves then you’ve created an unsafe environment.”
He added: “I had a great time playing last year but will not be attending again if I have to queue up for the ladies’ bathroom and my trans sisters have to risk outing themselves in the men’s bathroom. All this does is put trans people in danger. If you’re playing @downloadfest, attending it or even just aware of it, say something about it.”
Manchester act Witch Fever, who performed at Download in 2023, also took to social media to share their thoughts on the situation. The post-punk band will be performing at Manchester’s Outbreak Fest on the same weekend as this year’s Download.
Posting on their Instagram Stories in response to a question from a fan about their thoughts on the comments, they wrote: “The threat to trans people’s safety by forcing them to enter toilets that are assigned to a gender that they don’t associate with is a complete ****in tragedy. We are hoping this decision gets changed.”
In a further post on X, the band said: "I said what I said." The band also added: "And to be clear - apparently the festival will also be providing gender neutral toilets which is good, but to enforce rules on what person can use what toilet based on their biological sex over their gender identity is not championing inclusivity and diversity."
Organisers of Download Festival have now clarified their stance in a statement which has been shared with the Manchester Evening News. Festival bosses reiterated that toilets at this year’s event will be ‘available to all’ and apologised that previous communication ‘was not clear’.
A spokesperson from Download Festival said: “At the heart of Download is acceptance – we stand with all members of our community and want everyone to feel safe, supported and welcome at the festival.
“We want to reassure all of our customers that at Download, the majority of toilets will be gender neutral and available to all. There will also be single sex toilets provided. Download Festival has always been and remains for everyone.
“We sincerely apologise that a previous communication on this was not clear. We are looking forward to seeing you at Download this year."