Regional SA barber refuses to cut transgender teenager’s hair

The family of a transgender teen is outraged after a barber shop in their regional SA town refused to cut his hair, saying they weren’t allowed to serve girls.

A barber shop located in regional South Australia has refused to serve a local transgender teenager, leaving the student upset and their outraged family demanding an apology.

Julian*, 15, was told the Murraylands barbershop, which is not being named, served only men despite the student asking for a “male-style” trim.

Their usual stylist was not in the popular salon when the incident occurred after school nearly a fortnight ago.

They had visited for at least three years without incident but it is understood to have changed ownership in recent weeks.

It forced the student, who was born female but is transitioning to becoming a male, to travel to Murray Bridge where they were given a boy’s haircut without any dramas.

The family, who did not want to be identified, has been left outraged over the decision, arguing it was discriminatory and called for an apology.

The incident emerged days after a transgender student dominated an SA schoolgirls’ athletics race under official Education Department guidelines.

The teenager seeking a haircut, who loves art, drawing and craft activities as well as English at school, said they had been unfairly treated.

Generic male hairdresser does haircut for bearded man in barber shop.

“I felt quite alienated,” said the teenager, who has ambitions to become a character designer for Disney films.

“It was definite discrimination. She refused to serve me because of what I looked like and the fact that I wasn’t a guy.

“When we got there I got out my laptop and she was looking out the window. When I showed her the photo, she said ‘Oh I thought I was cutting his hair’ as she pointed to my friend behind me.

“Once I told her it was for me she told me that she wouldn’t do that. After she said that I had to hold back tears. She told me her boss had said she wasn’t allowed to cut girls’ hair – the shop only serves boys.

“I’ve never had to deal with this situation before. This is the first time that I’ve been refused service because of it.”

The teenager, who is embarking on hospital hormone treatment, added: “I should not be refused service for my body type. I didn’t believe this type of discrimination would be in this day and age.

“Hairdressers should be open to everyone and people of all genders. It should not be just male or female.”

The family was outraged at the lack of service.

The teen’s mother, Joanne*, 48, said the family was “disgusted and angry”.

She said the incident and “rude behaviour” from the owner and stylist, who were both in the store just before 4pm, left her child upset.

“My child wanted to get a boy’s haircut, short on the sides and a trim on top, and this shop gives male haircuts,” she said.

“We had to travel a long time to get a haircut rather than less than five minutes down the road. Everyone at school is very supportive but this was absolutely disgusting. We’re not living in the dark ages.”

The unnamed shop, which is said to be popular in the local area, did not return calls.

* Names have been changed.