A TRANSGENDER woman too afraid to use the toilet at work has spoken out about the discrimination she has faced from colleagues.
Bryony Stevens (whose name has been changed to protect her identity) began work at Broad Oak Toiletries in Tiverton earlier this year and says she was asked to use the toilet facilities in reception to avoid making anyone feel uncomfortable.
Members of the firm, which manufactures toiletries and fragrances, have treated Bryony differently, she feels, because she was once a man.
She says that staff have openly joked about transgenderism in front of her, using the word "lady boy" to describe transgender male to females.
The 31-year-old wants to raise awareness of the daily difficulties transgender people face. She said: "Everyone is meant to be equal these days but even when you're in work you're not getting equal opportunities. Companies are allowing certain staff to joke about sensitive issues."
At work, Bryony says she has faced discrimination with other employees referring to her as a 'He'.
She said: "It's like people treat me differently because they see me and don't think I look like a woman. But my name is Bryony. I changed my name legally, in the eyes of the law I am female."
Bryony did not want to use the male toilet facilities at the factory but was shocked and surprised at the response she received from management when she explained.
She said: "It was suggested I used the toilets in the reception area instead. A manager told me not to go on about transgenderism all the time."The manager said when I tried to bring it up again, "I'm a heterosexual female and I don't go on about it all the time so stop going on about transgenderism!""
The idea of using the toilets in the centralised area of reception filled Bryony with dread and she took drastic measures to ensure she wouldn't use the toilet at work.
Bryony said: "I actually hold on to go to the toilet until I get home and I make sure I don't drink anything for 12 hours before starting the shift so there is less chance of me needing the toilet when I'm there.
She said using the toilets in the reception area would make her feel embarrassed and ashamed.
She said: "I'd feel uncomfortable with people waiting there, looking at me, wondering why I'm using reception toilets when I could be using normal staff toilets."
From a young age Bryony says she knew she was different and remembers feeling awkward getting changed with the boys at primary school.
When taking the brave decision to live her life as a female, she did it without her family's support.
She said: "Both my parents are strictly religious and when I came out about it, they disowned me."
Bryony, who lives in the Mid Devon area, had struggled to get work until this year and spent the past five years unemployed.
She said: "As soon as I began living life as a woman I've found it difficult to get a job. I've been to interviews as Bryony but had no success. On one occasion I went for an interview at a restaurant and arrived ten minutes early. The guy before me was a no show and they came out with his CV thinking I was him."
Bryony felt inspired to come out about the discrimination she has faced after reading the case of Kay Browning, who was told to use the disabled facilities at a club.
Bryony said: "Kay is fighting the cause for transgender people everywhere. His story has inspired me to tell mine."
Bryony has not reported the incidents at Broad Oak Toiletries of fear of losing her job.
Sarah James, human resources manager at Broak Oak Toiletries, said the company operated an equal opportunities policy.
She said: "We operate an equal opportunities policy and that is laid out in the staff handbook. When new staff arrive they are trained about the importance of respecting people regardless of what background they come from."
She said she was unaware of specific complaints of jokes or inappropriate remarks being made but said where reported they would be investigated.
"We have a zero tolerance policy on harassment and where remarks are made which have upset somebody, I would invite them to come forward and make the HR department aware."
She said there were three toilets within the factory; male, female and unisex in the reception area. She said:
"If an employee is transgender, it would be their choice to be able to use whichever toilets they felt most comfortable with."
