Witch Fever describe Download Festival’s trans toilet access policy as “a complete fuckin’ tragedy”

"We are hoping this decision gets changed” The post Witch Fever describe Download Festival’s trans toilet access policy as “a complete fuckin’ tragedy” appeared first on NME.

May 28, 2025 - 06:10

Witch Fever describe Download Festival’s trans toilet access policy as “a complete fuckin’ tragedy”

witch fever band

Witch Fever have joined those voicing their opposition to Download Festival’s apparent policy regarding toilet access for trans fans.

READ MORE: Witch Fever: vital and inclusive ‘doom-punk’ for a world in chaos

Earlier today (May 27), artists NOAHFINNCE and Pinkshift hit out at the rock and metal festival for upholding a policy that prohibits trans women from using women’s bathrooms and trans men from using men’s facilities.

Pop-punk singer-songwriter NOAHFINNCE shared a screenshot that seemed to come from an email query to Download, showing the festival saying: “We are proud of the reputation the Download community has in terms of diversity, and will always look to promote the safety and comfort of all festival attendees including transgender and non-binary customers.

“We will be following the interim guidance issued by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on 25 April 2025 here. Their guidance states that ‘trans women (biological men) should not be permitted to use the women’s facilities and trans men (biological women) should not be permitted to use the men’s facilities’”.

Hey @DownloadFest what the fuck 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 piss is by outing ourselves then you’ve created an unsafe environment… pic.twitter.com/W0oLIa5P4U
— NOAHFINNCE Read More