Download music festival blasted by TWO main acts over ‘unsafe’ trans toilet policy: ‘What the f*** are you doing?’
Two major acts set to perform at the upcoming Download Festival have hit out at organisers over their policy on toilet access for transgender attendees.
The rock and metal festival returns to Donington Park, Leicestershire, from June 13 to 15, with first-time headliners Green Day, Sleep Token, and KoRn leading a bill that also features Weezer, Sex Pistols with Frank Carter, Jimmy Eat World, Poppy, Loathe, Jerry Cantrell, and more.
But with less than a month to go, musician NOAHFINNCE has called out the festival’s stance on trans bathroom access, sharing a screenshot on social media of what appears to be Download’s official policy.
According to the email, the festival states: “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.’”
In response, NOAHFINNCE wrote over the screenshot: “Hey @downloadfest what the f*** are you doing inviting trans people to play your festival but not allowing them the simple right of using the correct bathroom?”
“I had a great time playing last year but will not be attending again if I have to queue up for the ladies’ bathroom and my trans sisters have to risk outing themselves in the men’s bathroom. All this does is put trans people in danger.
“If you’re playing @downloadfest, attending it or even just aware of it, say something about it.”
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NOAHFINNCE, who came out publicly as a transgender man in 2017, also added in the post’s caption: “What the f*** 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 p**s is by outing ourselves then you’ve created an unsafe environment.”
The festival’s policy appears to follow the UK Supreme Court’s April 16 ruling, which clarified that under the Equality Act, the legal definition of “woman” is based on biological sex.
Another act speaking out is American band Pinkshift, who performed at Download last year. They posted on Instagram Stories: “Playing @downloadfest was fun last year but what f***ing music festival polices gendered bathrooms? That’s crazy and so unsafe, thanks @noahfinnce for being the only artist I’ve seen talk about this…
“If Download is part of your life then speak up, they think they can get away with discrimination in the ripe year of 2025.”
Following the ruling, over 1,000 cultural figures signed an open letter warning that the decision “overlooks the need to protect trans, non-binary and intersex people from discrimination.”
They also criticised the expectation that cultural venues would have to police which toilets people use.
Artists including Charli XCX, Self Esteem, Wolf Alice, Scissor Sisters, Perfume Genius, Garbage, Rachel Chinouriri, JADE, Lambrini Girls, and Billy Bragg have all signed statements or spoken out in solidarity with the trans community.
Download have been contacted for comment.