A TRANSSEXUAL speedway fan said she broke down in floods of tears after being told she was not allowed to use the ladies’ toilets at Poole stadium.
Victoria Saxe-Coburg said she was told by security in front of other spectators there had been a complaint about her from another spectator.
The 55-year-old from Bournemouth, who had a gender reassignment operation more than 20 years ago, said she was told to use the disabled toilet.
Stadium manager Shaun Spencer-Perkins declined to comment on the incident.
Ms Saxe-Coburg was watching
Poole Pirates’ speedway victory over Wolverhampton Wolves on the evening of June 8.
She is a speedway fan of more than 40 years standing and has been watching Poole since moving to Dorset four years ago.
“It was said within earshot of everybody,†said Victoria, of Springbourne.
“They asked me to use the disabled toilets and I turned round and quite catgeorically said ‘no’.
“I’ve never had any complaints before whatsoever.
“I have been a model fan. There’s been no problems.
“I felt humiliated. There were quite a few people nearby. I always stand in exactly the same place. I felt so humiliated and angry that I felt as if I had to go to the opposite side of the stadium.
“I was in floods of tears. I saw the stadium manager afterwards, who said things were not handled well.â€
Ms Saxe-Coburg got a letter from her GP confirming the operation and met stadium staff again on Wednesday night during the Pirates 54-40 victory over Eastbourne.
She said she “did not get very far†with her complaint and staff were “not happy†with her using the ladies’ toilet.
She did not use the toilets during the match. “I very much doubt I will go again,†she said.
A Poole Pirates spokesman said the club only leases the stadium. They said the incident involved a member of the stadium staff, not an employee of the club.
