A dad took his daughters into the women’s toilet — then the police were called

Tyler Brodsky took his two young daughters into the women’s toilet – and went viral (Picture: Getty Images)

‘It’s alright, baby. It’s okay.’

These were the words dad Tyler Brodsky used to calm his two little girls, after a man called the police on them.

Neither Tyler, or his children, had broken the law. All he’d done was take his young daughters into an empty women’s toilet.

As the sole caregiver at the time, he’d reasoned that it would be more appropriate to take his children into the women’s rather than the men’s.

But according to one onlooker, he crossed the line.

In a viral TikTok clip, a disgruntled customer can be seen opening the door to the ladies’ toilets, on the phone to the police. One of Tyler’s daughters can be heard crying in distress.

‘The women’s restroom was empty, so I took them in,’ Tyler writes in the caption. ‘I’d rather do that than bring two little girls into a men’s bathroom full of grown men and dirty stalls.

‘This guy comes barging in yelling, scares my daughters, and somehow thinks THEY should’ve been in the men’s room instead. Am I wrong here?’

‘The women’s restroom was empty, so I took them in’ (Picture: Getty Images)

The shop’s female manager is even forced to step in and apologises for his behaviour, comforting the two little girls and offering them some paper to dry their hands with. ‘I am so sorry,’ she tells Tyler.

Now, Tyler’s TikTok video has received 4.7 million likes and 28.6 million views — and the overwhelming majority is taking the brave dad’s side.

In the comments section, Brittani wrote: ‘As a woman with no kids, you did nothing wrong. Your little girl crying and scared broke my heart. Keep being an amazing dad.’

‘Not only did you remain calm, you took your time with your daughters, and you still spoke with your children with such gentleness,’ @tmichelle_rn said, while @Texasmomof3boys said he did the right thing with ‘so much grace and composure.’

She added: ‘You are the perfect role model for your beautiful daughters. I’m so sorry you had to deal with that.’

Can dads take their daughters into female public toilets?

In the UK, it is not a criminal offence to go into a female toilet as a man, or vice versa.

However, last year, this issue was brought into the spotlight, after the landmark Supreme Court ruling that that the definition of a woman under the Equality Act should be based on biological sex.

Follow up guidance was issued by the UK Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which deemed that single-sex spaces, which includespublic toilets and changing rooms, should be used in accordance with ‘biological sex.’

However, the advisory body warned that, where gender-neutral spaces aren’t offered, this could end up discriminating against transgender people.

At the time, Tammy Hymas, policy lead at the campaign group TransActual, told Metro: ‘The government wants to sign off in secret on a bathroom ban that would exclude and segregate trans people from public life. 

‘The EHRC’s proposals are not just unworkable in practice, but as the Commissioner highlights, would result in grave human rights violations. 

It is also worth noting that a parent could be breaking the law if they sent their young child into a public toilet, regardless of gender, without them.

The law does not state an exact age when you can leave a child on their own, but it’s an offence under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 to leave a child alone if it places them at risk.

NSPCC guidance also adds that children under 12 are rarely mature enough to be left alone for long periods of time, and that babies, toddlers and very young children should never be left alone.

Tyler didn’t want to take them into the men’s, for fear of it being dirty (Picture: Getty Images)

What happened to Tyler Brodsky and his daughters?

Since the altercation, Tyler has issued an update to let his new-found followers know that his girls are ‘safe, happy, and doing great.’

Tyler said in a subsequent TikTok: ‘Three officers showed up. They got there within five minutes, tops. Very professional, very nice.

‘One of the officers was talking to me and the man, and explained that the situation wasn’t as black and white as many people may think.

‘They pointed out that taking two little girls into the men’s restroom could be viewed just as negatively as me being in the woman’s restroom with my girls.

‘They tried to make sense of it, tried to understand both perspectives, but ultimately, there was really nothing that they could do.

‘They did let me know that I was okay, that I didn’t do anything wrong. They were very reassuring.’

‘Every family deserves dignity’

Tyler has now started a petition to encourage more family bathrooms in public spaces, which has now received more than 2,000 signatures.

Acknowledging that while many businesses have added spaces suitable for parents to use alongside their children, many public spaces simply don’t have these options available.

The petition reads: ‘Families are often left with impossible choices that can lead to uncomfortable, stressful, and sometimes unsafe situations.

‘This issue affects fathers helping young daughters, mothers helping young sons, parents with multiple small children…every family deserves dignity, privacy, and a safe place to care for their loved ones.

‘Together, we can help ensure that future generations have access to the privacy, safety, and dignity every family deserves.’

Comments Add as preferred source