Nurse wary of 'bigot' label in trans case against trust

A NURSE taking her hospital trust to an employment tribunal over its policy of allowing a transgender colleague to use the female changing rooms said she was wary of raising concerns at first as she feared being labelled a bigot.

- By Tom Wilkinson

Tracey Hooper is one of seven nurses bringing a claim after Rose Henderson, who was born male but identifies as female, was allowed to use the women's changing facilities at Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Ms Hooper said she first saw Henderson in the room in 2023. "I could not believe it," she added. "He was dressed in a masculine way, he was wearing a baggy, black T-shirt with a large rock or Gothic image on the front, baggy jeans and well-used dark trainers.

"He had long straggly hair. He wore no makeup or jewellery."