A transgender teenager claims he was refused a haircut in a barber’s shop because they insisted he was a girl.

Sam Vella, 16, says he was told by staff they ‘weren’t sure’ of his gender when he asked for a shaved cut on Saturday.

Sam went with his mum, Joanna Smith, to Village Barbers on Ashton New Road, Clayton, to get the sides shaved, but the barbers told them that they ‘didn’t cut girls’ hair’.

Joanna, 42, said: ‘His hair is really short and he wanted the sides shaving, so it was a boy’s haircut.

‘But we were told they don’t cut girls’ hair. I initially thought they thought they meant me, but then realized they meant Sam. He kept saying we don’t cut girls’ hair. We explained Sam is a boy but they said they weren’t sure “what Sam was”.’

The pair say they were asked to leave. But Sam returned and tried to explain he just wanted a haircut.

Joanna added: ‘I waited outside because I didn’t want it to look like we were causing an argument but I could hear them shouting at Sam so I went back to the shop. They then shouted at him to leave and slammed the door in our face.’

Sam, who was born female but lives as a boy and is currently having gender treatment, said: “They just kept telling me that because I wore nail polish I was a girl and then they didn’t know what I was. I felt humiliated and really embarrassed.’

They claim staff commented on his nail polish and asked his name – which his mum said was to determine his gender.

Joanna added: “What does it matter if he wears nail polish, so many other men do. Sam is a human being and should be treated like one. It’s 2016 and people need to remember that.’

Source:
courtesy of METRO

by Nicole Morley

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