Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Trans civil servants may be forced to 'out themselves' under new guidelines

https://www.thepinknews.com/2026/07/23/civil-servants-trans-toilet-guidelines/

Jack Wetherill (23 July 2026)

Following the updated EHRC guidelines which were presented to parliament in May, transgender civil servants "may not use facilities of [their] affirmed gender which are designated as single-sex". According to the guidelines, as seen by Metro, this is not affected by a person having a Gender Recognition Certificate as that "does not alter your sex".

Trans civil servants must instead use mixed sex or unisex facilities, or use toilets that match their biological sex.

However, there are fears the guidelines may force some trans civil servants to "out themselves", as the guidelines adds: "You will need to discuss the options and agree on the most suitable arrangement with your line manager."

This is despite the fact their is "no legal requirement" for an employee to disclose that they are trans.

TransLucent CEO Steph Richards told Metro: "Trans staff may be put into a position to 'out themselves' to managers, directly violating their right to privacy under Article 8 of the ECHR."

According to Metro, the guidelines also include sections on what would happen if someone deadnamed or misgendered a trans colleague.

While the guidelines accept it can "happen accidentally", they add: "Deliberate deadnaming or misgendering to deny, mock or invalidate a person's trans identity is unacceptable and should be investigated as potential misconduct."

It also adds that "some employees do not believe in trans or gender identities", which is "protected" under the Equalities Act if it is a "philosophical belief".

Hi Everyone
The headline says that civil servants may be forced to "out themselves" under the new guidance.

My immediate reaction was simple: How?

If a person has been living in their sex for many years, has the appropriate legal documentation and joins an organisation in the ordinary way, how would the employer know anything different unless it already possesses historical information or the person volunteers it?

Most people do not introduce themselves by announcing their sex or gender. They simply live their lives. If someone does not volunteer labels or private history, there may be nothing to "out."

That is the central point of my argument. I have written a more detailed discussion covering labels, privacy, disclosure and why I believe the simplest approach is often to keep your mouth shut about your private history unless there is a genuine reason to disclose it.

My full post considers this issue and can be found here (https://www.susans.org/index.php?topic=247190.msg2348260#msg2348260).

Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator

For me, even though I am not working, the issue arose when I moved in South Dakota. I had changed my name and all of my documents, including my birth certificate, and had three photo IDs (including a passport).

However, during the rental application, they pull a credit report and do a background check to ensure you are not a felon or sex offender. That pulled up a different name associated with my Social Security number. Since I transitioned at the previous address, my previous landlord would have a copy of my name change documents.

It all worked out, as there was no suspicion or reason to suspect I was up to no good; I had good references, etc. However, the fact remains that the historical records used in routine processes to prevent identity theft did out me to my new landlord.

Employers use similar services for similar reasons to vet employee candidates.

When I was working as a civil servant in the UK there was a trans woman in my department. This transwoman was very loud, very outragous in how they dressed and often quite crude. They were making no attempt to pass, though I think this might have been very difficult for her. She was embracing the outragous, I am not saying there was anything wrong with that, in fact she did used to join us for lunch sometimes and was really nice, but I know for a fact that some of the female staff were very very uneasy about her using the womens wc. A few comments were made to supervisors at the time but they were shot down. I think it is this "version" (that's probably not the right word) of trans women that women fear the most. They do not seem to understand that in reality all she wanted to do was use the bathroom the same as them and it was a flashpoint. I fear women like her will now be the target under these new guidelines.

@Stottie Girl cc: @Sarah B
Dear Sharon:  SARAH

My intention, especially in the business world, is to always attempt to blend in and not stand out in clothing, appearance, actions, and language. 
Once I started passing reliably I could then be a little more "daring"
Danielle

Blending in is the way to go, at least for me.

Hi Everyone

"Blending in" is the operative phrase for me.  The person Stottie Girl described sounds like an example of how being deliberately loud, crude and confrontational can create unnecessary tension.

That has nothing to do with how she dressed or whether she passed.  Unfortunately, behaviour like that can reinforce negative perceptions of the wider transgender community even though it is unfair to judge everyone by one person's conduct.

Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator

I know quite a few trans people who wish they could blend in and/or pass.

Quote from: Courtney G on July 26, 2026, 06:51:23 PMI know quite a few trans people who wish they could blend in and/or pass.

@Courtney G
Dear Courtney:
Yes, I agree with you that there are (more) than a few trans people who wish
they could blend in and/or pass reliably.

It is obvious that blending in does not happen automatically or easily.  It takes
a lot of work, starting with HRT, voice,
learning personal grooming, clothing choices,
hair, nails, makeup, and learning mannerisms, etc. 
Although, not always required, but possible surgeries may help in that regard.

HUGS, Danielle [Northern Star Girl]
Forum Administrator

Agreed, Danielle. But I know a couple of people who are well over 6 feet tall, with very large frames and other features that will make it difficult or impossible for them to ever pass. As frustrated as I am with my own situation, I realize I'm fortunate not to have that level of testosterone poisoning

Quote from: Courtney G on July 26, 2026, 10:12:06 PMI know a couple of people who are well over 6 feet tall, with very large frames and other features that will make it difficult or impossible for them to ever pass.

I have known many tall, large-framed women who were very feminine. It is not about size. Women come in all shapes and sizes. We had a coworker who was 6'2" and very curvy, with beautiful blonde hair. We nicknamed her our office "Viking Goddess".

There are many celebrity women who are well over six feet tall, and although they are not curvy, there is no doubt that they are feminine. There are many areas where femininity can override apparent masculinity.

I don't think it's very nice to refer to either hormone as "poisonous". The FTMs who use the site have to make the same difficult decisions and jump through the same hoops that MTFs have to in order to get estradiol. Additionally, a lot of women on this site end up taking supplemental T.

A little respect goes a long way, and it also flows in both directions. 🙂

Quote from: Northern Star Girl on July 26, 2026, 08:30:42 PM@Courtney G
Dear Courtney:
Yes, I agree with you that there are (more) than a few trans people who wish
they could blend in and/or pass reliably.

It is obvious that blending in does not happen automatically or easily.  It takes
a lot of work, starting with HRT, voice, l
earning personal grooming, clothing choices,
hair, nails, makeup, and learning mannerisms, etc. 
Although, not always required, but possible surgeries may help in that regard.

HUGS, Danielle [Northern Star Girl]
Forum Administrator

Obviously not everyone will be able to pass. But the very fact that they are seen to be trying to can help enormously. Should it be this way? No, probably not but I think this is the reality of it.

And Danielle...............SHARON again!!!! lol!

Quote from: Devlyn on July 27, 2026, 01:04:35 AMI don't think it's very nice to refer to either hormone as "poisonous". The FTMs who use the site have to make the same difficult decisions and jump through the same hoops that MTFs have to in order to get estradiol. Additionally, a lot of women on this site end up taking supplemental T.

A little respect goes a long way, and it also flows in both directions. 🙂

That term is a commonly-used colloquialism in the trans community. It's not something I came up with. It simply implies that people who identify as female and were flooded with T were "poisoned" by the effects it produced. I don't mean to say that it's poison.

I think everyone is missing the point. I'm simply speaking on behalf of those who feel they'll never pass because they're 6' 6", 280 pounds, with a very large frame, baritone voice, massively masculine features, etc., etc. Telling them they just need to "blend in" in order to pass doesn't take into consideration the struggles they face. I'm not saying AT ALL that I don't see them as feminine, that they aren't beautiful and valid and female, that they shouldn't transition or anything like that. I'm just thinking that if a beautiful, passing, 5' 6" person suggests they should blend in it would be pretty painful, especially if blending in is what they dream they could do, but there's no way not to stand out.

No disrespect meant to anyone; I'm simply standing up for the beautiful amazonian trans woman who reads that strategy with tears in her eyes because genetics and hormones took that option away when she hit puberty.

Some girls will absolutely fail to pass because of their size, masculine features etc that doesn't make them any less female. But this was about the ever present bathroom issues and whether CIS women feel uncomfortable with a transwoman who makes no "attempt" at passing. I honestly think if someone is seen to be trying then this can allay some of their fears.

Again I wish this wasn't so but women are naturally and rightly concerned about safety when it comes to men and it doesn't help if they think a "man" is entering their private spaces under false pretenses.

Quote from: Courtney G on July 27, 2026, 06:41:02 AMThat term is a commonly-used colloquialism in the trans community. It's not something I came up with. It simply implies that people who identify as female and were flooded with T were "poisoned" by the effects it produced. I don't mean to say that it's poison.

I think everyone is missing the point. I'm simply speaking on behalf of those who feel they'll never pass because they're 6' 6", 280 pounds, with a very large frame, baritone voice, massively masculine features, etc., etc. Telling them they just need to "blend in" in order to pass doesn't take into consideration the struggles they face. I'm not saying AT ALL that I don't see them as feminine, that they aren't beautiful and valid and female, that they shouldn't transition or anything like that. I'm just thinking that if a beautiful, passing, 5' 6" person suggests they should blend in it would be pretty painful, especially if blending in is what they dream they could do, but there's no way not to stand out.

No disrespect meant to anyone; I'm simply standing up for the beautiful amazonian trans woman who reads that strategy with tears in her eyes because genetics and hormones took that option away when she hit puberty.

It is commonly used, I understand that and I wasn't trying to single you out. It was intended more as a reminder to the general populace here that everyone is on a different path.

I've definitely seen pushback from someone saying "estrogen poisoning" in these hallowed halls. I've seen people with a complete lack of empathy asking FTMs why they would want to transition when they're already the fairer sex.


Most of us get that. Some people will learn that simply by being here and seeing the conversations.

Again, not pointing fingers at you or anyone else. I'm just trying to be a pain in the neck   the voice of reason. 😂

Hugs, Devlyn

Quote from: Lori Dee on July 26, 2026, 10:45:59 PMIt is not about size. Women come in all shapes and sizes. We had a coworker who was 6'2" and very curvy, with beautiful blonde hair.

There is more than just then the physical,  but physically it is about the specific combination of size and shape... Big frame and tall with big hands and feet and no curves does not work well... Tall but slight frame and skinny works OK even without curves.

QuoteThere are many areas where femininity can override apparent masculinity.

Only to a degree ... society in general these days is too t-Aware - not like 40 or 50+ years ago. Too many masculine physical clues will get people to start wondering - even about some genetic females...

While some genetic females do have some physical traits associated with males, they typically don't have the constellation of them that more than a few us have. Genetic females with a lot of such traits tend to be far out in the wings of the normal distribution.

While behavioral and voice (which can be very hard for some to deal with) can  get pretty far for many, depending on physical traits it's often not enough to never at least be "suspected" of being born male by some... Lots of people are good at subconscious pattern recognition...

Quote from: Devlyn on July 27, 2026, 08:01:18 AMI've definitely seen pushback from someone saying "estrogen poisoning" in these hallowed halls. I've seen people with a complete lack of empathy asking FTMs why they would want to transition when they're already the fairer sex.

I posted this recently in another trans space:

It's something that becomes clear to me (and helps validate my identity) when I see trans men who used to appear to be gorgeous women. My first thought is "oh, how could they do that to themselves? Why would they give up that wonderful body?"

My second thought is "You dummy. Just because you want to have that body doesn't mean they do." And it's further proof that my decades-long burning desire to have a female body is because that's the body my brain feels I'm supposed to have.

And that's the point. One person's cure can be another person's poison. Saying you hate what testosterone did to *you* doesn't mean you're not thrilled for a transmasculine (one word or two?) person who is getting exactly what they need from it. But invalidating someone's identity by saying "you were such a handsome man - why would you want to transition?" is very wrong. I learned that early on in my journey.

And those from the "fairer sex" who are NOT trans will tell you that living as a woman in this world is no picnic. We're all learning that male privilege (and the abuses thereof) is a real and awful thing. I'm ashamed that so many with the same sex chromosome combination as me can be so awful to women and to each other. We can do better.

Quote from: Stottie Girl on July 27, 2026, 02:24:07 AM{snipped text}

And Danielle...............SHARON again!!!! lol!

@Stottie Girl
Dear Sarah:
I fixed my posting on reply comment #5
      Sharon SARAH

I won't make any promises about accidentally making the same mistake again but please
believe me, I am truly sorry.

HUGS, Danielle

Quote from: Northern Star Girl on July 31, 2026, 09:35:28 PM@Stottie Girl
Dear Sarah:
I fixed my posting on reply comment #5
      Sharon SARAH

I won't make any promises about accidentally making the same mistake again but please
believe me, I am truly sorry.

HUGS, Danielle

😁🤣🤣🤣

Regrettably I believe that the United Kingdom is no longer a safe place for transgender people. It has become increasingly toxic and hostile, whipped up by an 'anti-woke' agenda.

xx

Quote from: Tills on August 01, 2026, 01:07:14 PMRegrettably I believe that the United Kingdom is no longer a safe place for transgender people. It has become increasingly toxic and hostile, whipped up by an 'anti-woke' agenda.

xx

It will be short lived Tills, I'm sure of it. The UK is not a place of hatred. We have a long history of being accepting and welcoming and standing up for what is right. There are always a minority who are bigotted and full of hate in any society and they are finding their voice right now but in time the reasonable, good people of this country will see what these people truly are like and they will not want to be part of it. They will stand up for what's right eventually. The silent majority will take a stand at some point.

Maybe I have blind faith but I see kindness and goodness all around, it is the media making things seem far worse than they really are. Even the law changes regarding bathrooms is actually pretty toothless when it boils down to it I for one intend to ignore it when I get out there.

Keep the faith Tills!

Quote from: Tills on August 01, 2026, 01:07:14 PMRegrettably I believe that the United Kingdom is no longer a safe place for transgender people. It has become increasingly toxic and hostile, whipped up by an 'anti-woke' agenda.

xx

You should have seen it in the 90s if you think it's bad now. I agree it's not great today but it's miles better now than in 1990 when I  started hrt and living in role at weekends.

Quote from: big kim on August 01, 2026, 01:48:24 PMYou should have seen it in the 90s if you think it's bad now. I agree it's not great today but it's miles better now than in 1990 when I  started hrt and living in role at weekends.

Seems like the UK and the US are on the same page with rolling back trans rights.

I certainly found the UK more hostile when I was a gay man. Now I get no bother really in the grand scheme of things. Dont know if that's because most people don't really care or I'm just passing to the most part. Still feels scary though and worry massively about using changing rooms for example.

I do worry about the direction the UK is going, but more so the lack of empathy. A lot of people are now cold and uncaring.

Quote from: Charlotte Kitty on August 01, 2026, 04:42:33 PMI do worry about the direction the UK is going, but more so the lack of empathy. A lot of people are now cold and uncaring.

Yes that's the thing which strikes me most. 10 years ago people were friendly and smiley towards me. Now it's exactly as you say: so many are cold and uncaring. (Not just towards us but so many others).

I don't think it's better now than in the 1990's @Kim - I think it's worse and getting worser.

xx

I agree with Lorraine Kelly: people wwre more tolerant in the 70's and 80's than now.

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/lorraine-kelly-makes-feelings-trans-37391789

(Warning: that's published in the Scottish Daily Express. The Daily Express is rabidly right wing, racist, and 'anti-woke')

I think we're deluding ourselves, like I did, if we consider things are really okay on the ground. Hostility and toxicity have massively increased, as they have for other groups, fed and spread by vile internet platforms. So whereas previously a critical voice or bigoted opinion could be a lone experience, now there are mass movements of hatred spawned and spewed across society. It's not just about trans rights being rolled back, it's about trans hatred, disdain, spreading. 10 years ago there was protective hate crime legislation, that no longer seems to be applied in the UK to trans comments. 'Everyone is allowed an opinion' is a mantra of this age. So you have newspapers like the Daily Express and Daily Mail who refer to transgender women as 'men'.

It's incredible to me that it's only 7 years since Theresa May resigned as Prime Minister. She was certainly not my political cup of tea but she was preparing to introduce self-certification for transgender identity. That's now unthinkable in the current UK climate. That's how far we have fallen back.

The ruling by the Supreme Court and now upheld by the EHRC that 'biological sex' (a phrase never properly defined) is the defining core identity has made this country untenable for a transgender person, in my opinion.

xx

Quote from: Tills on August 02, 2026, 11:27:21 PMI agree with Lorraine Kelly: people wwre more tolerant in the 70's and 80's than now.

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/lorraine-kelly-makes-feelings-trans-37391789

(Warning: that's published in the Scottish Daily Express. The Daily Express is rabidly right wing, racist, and 'anti-woke')

I think we're deluding ourselves, like I did, if we consider things are really okay on the ground. Hostility and toxicity have massively increased, as they have for other groups, fed and spread by vile internet platforms. So whereas previously a critical voice or bigoted opinion could be a lone experience, now there are mass movements of hatred spawned and spewed across society. It's not just about trans rights being rolled back, it's about trans hatred, disdain, spreading. 10 years ago there was protective hate crime legislation, that no longer seems to be applied in the UK to trans comments. 'Everyone is allowed an opinion' is a mantra of this age. So you have newspapers like the Daily Express and Daily Mail who refer to transgender women as 'men'.

It's incredible to me that it's only 7 years since Theresa May resigned as Prime Minister. She was certainly not my political cup of tea but she was preparing to introduce self-certification for transgender identity. That's now unthinkable in the current UK climate. That's how far we have fallen back.

The ruling by the Supreme Court and now upheld by the EHRC that 'biological sex' (a phrase never properly defined) is the defining core identity has made this country untenable for a transgender person, in my opinion.

xx

I agree it looks bleak, this isn't just a UK thing though. THese movements are all over the world now. There does not seem to be much appetite for fight back right now but that will change. The supreme court judgemnt was idiotic in my view, those judges should be debarred for what they did. The EHRC did not really have much choice as they had to work within the confines of the legislation. Legislation that was created in parliment and that could equally be re-written to get around the judgement I might add, sadly there appears to be no political will at the moment as trans rights is not a vote winner.

I still have hope that the multiple ongoing legal challenges to the supreme court and also the European Court of Human Rights will either overturn the decision or force open a loophole that gets us round this issue. The majority of people do not want this crackdown on trans people and businesses and employers do not want to have to spend millions on changing WC facilities across the country. There will be pushback even if nobody takes up our cause directly. And if not, we have our own resident militant leader up in her cosy cottage in Scotland lol!

In the meantime, just ignore the rules and regulations, it is still NOT a criminal offence to use the bathroom or single sex space of your gender identity, so what can they actually do about it? Employers won't want to sack you and face high profile unfair dismisal cases based on denial of basic human rights! Ask you to leave? well maybe but I doubt many shops will want to cause a scene and by the time they get their managers to respond you would have finished and been on your way. I don't feel that women are confrontational in this country so in most cases the most you would get are harsh looks.

TLDR: Divide and conquer.
The tide will turn when the voice of the general public makes it clear that it does not want the anti-trans rhetoric and anti-trans changes. Until then, a slippery slope downwards for as long as it creates political traction that might gain votes and attention. This is a general modus operandi that applies not only to the anti-trans issues but to many things political that can be "weaponized" for whatever cause. So, unfortunately, things are likely to get worse for yet a while.

Quote from: Stottie Girl on August 03, 2026, 01:41:58 AMI agree it looks bleak, this isn't just a UK thing though. THese movements are all over the world now.

Hi Stottie Girl. Nice to be chatting again :)

Well there are other countries that are totally different from the current UK and US zeitgeist. There are countries where there is little or no pushback against trans rights and some, indeed, which are continuing to progress support and protection. There are other threads to further that discussion but I think the UK and US are now horrible places in which to be a woman (or man) who was assigned the wrong body at birth and where being oneself IS increasingly treated as a felony.

Sorry but I do think it's bleak in the UK and US, and this is not going to be for me for much longer. I am taking self-protective action.

xx

I honestly don't see anything changing in the UK at all in the short term. I'll be doing everything I can to find and stick with allies, which thankfully I have as my work and running club appear full of educated people.

I think I really do pass - i got hassle at the weekend for what my partner and me were wearing, they didn't figure i was trans. My colleague was confused at first as she said i look completely like a woman - had to explain it was an attack on our clothes.

It's sad though its becoming a passing game now and kills options to be more enby whilst retaining safety.

Three steps forward and two steps back. It wasn't long ago that only 50% of the world had rights. If only a small percentage* of people are being denied rights now, it's still better than it used to be. It certainly isn't fun being in a targeted group, I'll agree with that.

It's easy to fall into declinism. In reality, the world as a whole is trending upwards. It has its ups and downs of course.



*I know that a lot of people here use the "0.01 % of the population" number, but I'm more onboard with the 3-6% figure. That's probably because I like the idea of the entire community being included, not just a subset.

Quote from: Tills on August 03, 2026, 04:12:45 AMHi Stottie Girl. Nice to be chatting again :)

Well there are other countries that are totally different from the current UK and US zeitgeist. There are countries where there is little or no pushback against trans rights and some, indeed, which are continuing to progress support and protection. There are other threads to further that discussion but I think the UK and US are now horrible places in which to be a woman (or man) who was assigned the wrong body at birth and where being oneself IS increasingly treated as a felony.

Sorry but I do think it's bleak in the UK and US, and this is not going to be for me for much longer. I am taking self-protective action.

xx

I've missed you too Tills!

Well maybe I'm being daft or naive to have hope and optimism. Only time will tell I guess.

You strike me as a free spirit who has lived abroad in some very interesting places so I totally understand why, for you, upping sticks and moving to another country is relatively easy. For me, I'm a bit of a homebody, I'm not as adventurous, I'm also a lot further behind on the journey than you are.

I had hoped you would find happiness and peace in your little scottish cottage away from the stress of it all as that is my dream one day but if it's not a right fit for you then you know your own mind. Do what makes you feel happy and safe.

Quote from: Stottie Girl on August 03, 2026, 06:54:31 AMI've missed you too Tills!

Well maybe I'm being daft or naive to have hope and optimism. Only time will tell I guess.

You strike me as a free spirit who has lived abroad in some very interesting places so I totally understand why, for you, upping sticks and moving to another country is relatively easy. For me, I'm a bit of a homebody, I'm not as adventurous, I'm also a lot further behind on the journey than you are.

I had hoped you would find happiness and peace in your little scottish cottage away from the stress of it all as that is my dream one day but if it's not a right fit for you then you know your own mind. Do what makes you feel happy and safe.

I'm with you on this one. Although I adapt well when I'm abroad, having social anxiety and psychological issues is not a good recipe for success in a new place. And I'd never be great at finding work either, much red tape since leaving EU.