The Starbucks executive was filmed yelling at a customer for being “transphobic” after using the word “lady” to describe a non-binary member of staff as an outspoken advocate for trans rights, we can reveal.
To date, the identity of the coffee shop worker who was filmed berating a woman and throwing her out of a branch of the chain in Southampton has remained a mystery in video footage that has gone viral – but MailOnline can reveal she is Luna Spain, 28.
The dramatic footage sparked widespread speculation about the identity of the person caught on camera yelling at 55-year-old Vanessa Thomas after accidentally calling one of her colleagues a “lady.”
Luna has spent the past six months working at Starbucks, which is part-owned by a licensor, combining her job with her studies in environmental sciences at the Open University.
She grew up in Gosport, Hampshire, where she attended a local secondary school, but has lived in Southampton for five years.
Luna has spent the past six months working at Starbucks, which is part-owned by a licensor, combining her job with her studies in Environmental Sciences at the Open University
She has lost her job at the Starbucks since the incident, with the company claiming they “will not tolerate such behavior.” The police are also investigating the case
She has lost her job at the Starbucks since the incident, with the company claiming they “will not tolerate such behavior.” The police are also investigating the case.
Ms Thomas, who has been trying to establish the identity of the store manager since the incident, claimed she feared for her life after being physically thrown from the cafe by her and then attempted to assault her partner Mark Andrews. who filmed the fight.
She insisted the whole argument stemmed from her using the word “lady” to describe a member of staff who served her without realizing they didn’t “identify as a woman.” This prompted Luna, who was close by, to confront Ms. Thomas for using the wrong gender to describe her colleague.
The incident took place on April 30.
Neighbors along the quiet road where Luna lives in Southampton described her as ‘one of a kind’.
One told MailOnline: ‘Luna has a partner and they seem like a nice couple, but don’t say much to us. No one here has a problem with her sexuality, but people are quite afraid of offending her if they say the wrong thing.
“You saw what happened at Starbucks and people don’t want that to happen to them. Sometimes you can get your genders mixed up because it has become quite a complicated world. Let’s just say that Luna is quite a unique person.’
Luna is well known within Southampton’s trans community and is an outspoken campaigner on trans issues.
The incident took place at this Starbucks outlet near the ferry terminal in Southampton
Luna grew up in Gosport, Hampshire, where she attended a local secondary school, but has lived in Southampton for five years.
Earlier this year, she attended a vigil for transgender teen Brianna Ghey, who was found stabbed to death in a Warrington park in February.
Earlier this year, she attended a vigil for transgender teen Brianna Ghey, who was found stabbed to death in a Warrington park in February.
Posting on social media, Luna writes, “A fire has been placed in my stomach. I’m going to be louder and prouder than ever before. Every day I live as my true self, every day every trans and non-binary person lives as their true self is justice.
“We will not be stopped, we will not be silenced, we will not be forced into hiding. Trans people have always been here. AND WE ARE GOING NOWHERE!! RIP Brianna. We all love you dearly and mourn you.”
In another post she writes: ‘Labels are important in gender identity, because without labels we wouldn’t have an identity.
Labels are not the problem. Intolerance and intolerance of differences is the problem. Labels should be celebrated and used to build one’s character and sense of self.”
Before moving to Southampton, Luna attended Bay House School in Gosport, where many former pupils revealed they had seen video of the Starbucks incident but were not surprised by it.
One said, “Luna was always a big, outspoken character, even at school. She was never afraid to call things out and let’s just say she wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Many of us have seen and talked about the video.
Vanessa Thomas, pictured with partner Mark Andrews, said she feared for her life after being kicked out of the cafe for using the word ‘lady’ to describe a member of staff without realizing they didn’t identify as female
Ms Thomas (pictured), who has been trying to establish the identity of the store manager since the incident, claimed she feared for her life after being physically thrown from the cafe by her and then attempted to assault her partner Mark Andrews, who was filming the altercation
“We’re not surprised that Luna did something like that, because she’s not one to tolerate nonsense. But in this case I think maybe she’s exaggerating a bit because from what I’ve read, the customer didn’t mean to offend anyone.’
Another former school friend said, ‘I haven’t seen Luna in a while, but when she was in school, that wasn’t her name. Everyone at school knew her and she was a great character.
She’s never been afraid to speak her mind. Since the Starbucks video came out I’m surprised she hasn’t posted about it on social media, it’s not like her to be so quiet.”
Luna’s parents, Nigel and Fiona Spanje, still live in the Gosport area in a pretty, semi-detached house off a leafy road.
Mr Spain told MailOnline: ‘I wasn’t in the Starbucks so I’m not going to comment on it, and I haven’t spoken to Luna about it.’
The altercation at the Starbucks started after Mrs. Thomas was told by an employee who served her that they don’t accept cash payments.
Luna then joined the conversation, with Mrs. Thomas telling her, “I’m not talking to you, I’m talking to the lady behind the counter.”
Before moving to Southampton, Luna attended Bay House School in Gosport where many former pupils revealed they had seen video of the Starbucks incident but were not surprised by it
The altercation at the Starbucks started after Mrs. Thomas was told by an employee who served her that they don’t accept cash payments
At that point, Luna hit back, telling Ms. Thomas that the person behind the counter did not identify herself as a “lady” and that she was “transphobic.”
Mrs. Thomas said: ‘I spoke to someone who I thought was a lady behind the counter who served me. I complained that this is another company that doesn’t take cash and that I don’t like using contactless cards because I don’t want anyone to know what I’m buying.
The transstore manager then jumped in and I said, “I’m not talking to you, I’m talking to the lady behind the counter.”
And then the store manager went all out, came out from behind the counter and confronted me.”