Australian Trans Man Fires Back at Clerk Who Publicly 'Embarassed' Him

This week, a 19-year-old Australian man from Wollongong opened up to the Sydney Morning Herald about being publicly demeaned for being transgender.

When the young man (who wishes to remain anonymous) attempted to buy cigarettes, a cashier allegedly laughed loudly and drew attention to him, responding to his outdated ID photo. The man, who recently lost his childcare job, said he hasn't been able to afford updating the ID since beginning his gender transition.

"She looked at me funny, and said it wasn't me in the photo," he told the Herald. "I've got a bit of facial hair from testosterone I'm taking, and in my photo I haven't got any. She laughed in my face when I told her my situation. ... She may have thought I didn't look like my license, but it was uncalled for her to laugh."

He went on to describe how the cashier denied him service even after he showed her several other forms of ID to verify his age. Her laughter drew the notice of 20 other shoppers nearby, he added.

"I'm transitioning and I don't want everyone to know yet. She was so loud everyone turned around. I was so embarrassed," he explained. "Transitioning is an emotional thing to go through, without any extra drama."

Though he eventually left Woolworths to buy cigarettes elsewhere, the young man chose to file a complaint with the supermarket chain and speak publicly about his experiences to draw attention to the presence of antitrans discrimination in public accommodations.

In a statement, a Woolworths spokesman denied that the man had explained he was transitioning and defended the cashier for refusing service due to being unable to verify his age.