Domestic violence survivor is ‘terrified’ after a man disguised as a woman is allowed to stay in an all-female dorm and is seen lying on a bed half-naked by residents
- Sue Boardman, 55, from Shropshire, suffered terrible domestic violence for 23 years
A man dressed as a woman was allowed to stay in a female-only dorm by a hostel, forcing a “terrified” survivor of domestic violence to find alternative accommodation late at night.
The man, who booked a room in an all-female dorm at the Astor Victoria Hostel in Pimlico under the name of Alisson, was seen by female residents lying half-naked on his bed and showing his male genitalia.
Sue Boardman, who suffered horrific domestic violence 23 years ago, spoke of her horror after discovering that the female-only dorm she checked into was occupied by a man.
The 55-year-old from Shropshire had traveled to London for two nights on May 28 for the Let Women Speak event, which covered the importance of safe spaces for women.
She told The Sunday Telegraph: “I was about to go to bed when one of the other women told me they had discovered a man dressed as a woman sprawled on the bed, with his male genitals exposed.
A man dressed as a woman was allowed to stay in a female-only dorm by a hostel, forcing a ‘terrified’ survivor of domestic violence to find alternative accommodation late at night (File image)
“They said they complained and the hostel agreed to move him, but he left for the night and his stuff was still there.
“So I was terrified that he might come back any minute.
“The whole point of booking a female-only room was for the safety and protection of all men.
‘I wasn’t sure if it was a mistake or if it was the hostel’s policy to allow males who identify as females to stay in female dorms.
She added, “I had a panic attack and left as soon as I could.”
Mrs Boardman had to spend hundreds of pounds late at night trying to find alternative accommodation.
Astor Hotels offered Ms. Boardman a 50 percent refund as a gesture of goodwill after she filed a complaint, but this left her feeling insulted.
Sue Boardman from Shropshire had traveled to London for two nights on May 28 for the Let Women Speak event (pictured) which covered the importance of safe spaces for women (File image)
Ms Boardman said: ‘I am really concerned that the safety of women and girls everywhere is being endangered by men who are not actually trans but are deliberately invading women-only spaces.
“It’s ironic that I was in London attending the Let Women Speak event, where we discussed safe spaces, and then I experienced exactly the kind of thing that so many women worry about.”
The peaceful women’s rights event, organized last month, was disrupted by violent masked trans protesters with banners reading ‘poor trans children’.
According to a spokesman for Astor Hotels, the man checked into the wrong room due to an error at the reception.
The spokesperson said: ‘As soon as our staff became aware of this issue, the guest in question was moved to a mixed dormitory.
“Our policy for female-only dorms is that only those who are legally recognized as women are allowed to stay in them.”