A member of restaurant staff allegedly barricaded a unisex toilet to stop a trans customer using it.

Zee Pepper told LGBTQ+ outlet the Star Observer that he was at Melbourne’s Soho Restaurant and Bar with family members and went to find the toilet while his mother was paying the bill.

He had unpleasant experiences in single-sex male toilets before so wanted to use the restaurant’s unisex facility, but was prevented from doing so by someone “very overpowering” who demanded his use the male toilets.

“I quietly and politely said to him that I am trans and don’t feel safe using the male toilets at this time, and that I have a right to use the unisex toilet,” Pepper said.

“He responded by laughing in my face, saying he [didn’t] care, and pointing and demanding I use the male’s,” Pepper claimed. “At that point, I became visibly upset and angry. I asked him: ‘Are you mocking me for being trans?’ We went back and forth, him stating I need to use the male’s, me saying I felt unsafe and have a right to this toilet.”

Pepper also went on to claim that the staff member grabbed a pair of posts and barricaded the door with them, saying: “There, now you can’t use it at all,” before walking away.

Taking to social media, Pepper said he was “not normally one to go all out like this” but the incident had left him disgusted.

He described it as a “shocking way to start Pride month, adding: “This sort of behaviour and these experiences need to be called out. Whilst I’m aware I was attempting to use the unisex accessibility toilet (which isn’t illegal to do if I don’t have a disability), the fact that I politely disclosed to him that I am trans and get scared using the men’s toilets, he should’ve just allowed me to quickly use it.

“He should’ve understood and respected me. I was likely the only trans person at that restaurant. I wasn’t taking up space or acting entitled.

“It was for my safety. Instead, he mocked me more than once,” Pepper alleged.

“The world is not a very kind place at the moment, especially for a trans Aboriginal man straddling two marginalised identities,” he said. “Now, more than ever, it’s important for venues to start making toilets accessible for trans and gender-diverse people. I don’t want to be taking up the space of a person with accessibility needs but I want to feel safe using a toilet at a venue or public place.

“I appreciate all the love and support I’ve received since posting online about my experience at this restaurant. Hopefully they can do better going forward.”

In response, people have left one-star reviews for the restaurant on TripAdvisor and Google.

Instagram comments on the restaurant’s official account appear to have been turned off and replies mentioning the incident hidden.

PinkNews has contacted Soho Restaurant and Bar for comment.

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