A woman has claimed that her girlfriend was left in tears after being subjected to transphobic abuse as she visited a Specsavers store for a routine eye test.

Pauline and fiancée Jess, who started living as a woman 10 months ago, were visiting a branch of Specsavers in Livingston, Scotland – when a group of workers began laughing at her.

‘The staff didn’t know we were together’, Pauline recalled to Metro.co.uk

‘As Jess walked past, one of the sales assistants sniggered to her colleague “that’s a man” and had a laugh about it.


‘I said “that’s my wife and it’s not funny”. The woman who said it scuttled off and her colleague mumbled something about how they weren’t saying what I thought they said.’



Posting on Twitter, Jess said that the incident had ‘made her cry’ and described it as ‘very upsetting’.

For those that missed it, here's me looking all manly again ;) pic.twitter.com/odEj2oW9ka — Jessica Kirby (@je5kby) September 24, 2015

And while the couple have since received an apology from the store, Pauline called for greater diversity training among the optical chain’s staff.

‘It’s a situation that can’t be rectified – the damage is done’, Pauline told Metro.

‘I’m pleased that the company do not share the views of this particular employee.

‘I’d like them to commit to improved diversity and inclusion training to avoid others having similar experiences.

‘It takes a great deal of courage to be a trans person facing intimate situations like eye-tests. To be treated like that is devastating.’

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In a statement to Metro.co.uk, a Specsavers spokesperson stressed that the complaint was being taken ‘very seriously’.

‘We take all customer complaints very seriously and we are currently investigating the incident with the store directors and the staff involved’, the Spokesperson said.

‘All customers should feel welcome and comfortable in our stores and we are sorry that the couple were upset by their experience in the Livingston store.’