University of Sheffield apologises after bouncer stood outside 'gender-neutral' toilet asking people what sex they were

A university has apologised after a bouncer stood outside a gender-neutral toilet and asked a student what sex they were.

The male student, named only as Dom, said he was banned from going into the gender-neutral toilet at the University of Sheffield after telling the bouncer he was a man.

He tweeted: “Big fan of the equality that our uni offers but to ban people from going to a ‘gender neutral’ toilet because they identify as male is pathetic.”

“For you to put a guy on the door saying ‘what gender are you?’ before letting them use the toilet is labelling people,” the third-year student added.

Speaking to The Times, a spokesman for the university said a new member of staff misunderstood their policy.

He added: "Our gender-neutral toilets are available for everyone to use. We apologise for any upset this mistake may have caused."

A Student Union spokesman said many trans and/or non-binary people “face a lot of anxiety about using toilets” and it can often be a very stressful experience.

Accommodation exclusively for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students may soon be offered at Sheffield University, the Student Union told The Times.

The student has settled the matter with the university and is not filing a formal complaint.