The alternative community is rallying in criticism of Download Fest UK following the release of its 2025 bathroom policy for this year’s event, taking place June 13–15. Among the most vocal is NOAHFINNCE, who performed at the festival in 2024.
The artist took to social media to share a screenshot of the policy and publicly condemn its approach. According to the image posted by NOAHFINNCE, the festival’s official bathroom guidelines are as follows:
“We are proud of the reputation the Download community has in terms of diversity, and will always look to promote the safety and comfort of all festival attendees including transgender and non-binary customers.
We will be following the interim guidance issued by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on 25 April 2025 here. Their guidance states that ‘trans women (biological men) should not be permitted to use the women’s facilities and trans men (biological women) should not be permitted to use the men’s facilities.”
In response, NOAH wrote over the screenshot, “Hey @downloadfest what the fuck are you doing inviting trans people to play your festival but not allowing them the simple right of using the correct bathroom. I had a great time playing last year but will not be attending again if I have to queue up for the ladies bathroom and my trans sisters have to risk outing themselves in the men’s bathroom. All this does is put trans people in danger.”
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He also shared in the caption on X (formerly Twitter), “Hey @DownloadFest what the fuck are you doing. How have you got the gall to invite trans people like me to play your festival and then ban them from using the toilet? If the only way we can piss is by outing ourselves then you’ve created an unsafe environment…”
Pinkshift quickly joined the conversation to stand in solidarity with NOAH, as well as the trans community, sharing on their Instagram Stories, “@downloadfest honestly what the fuck???” with NOAH’s original post.
They added a second story, writing, “playing @downloadfest was fun last year but what fucking music festival polices gendereded bathrooms?? That’s crazy and so unsafe, thanks @noafinnce for being the only artists I’ve seen talk about this… if download is part of your life then speak up, they think they can get away with this discrimination in the ripe year of 2025.”
As the conversation around this dangerous policy continues, fans and other media outlets have spoken in solidarity with NOAH and the trans community.
We Are Trxsh, a small media network, shares, “Today we stand by our trans & NB family. We hope @downloadfest reconsider their stance and ensure all are welcome.”
Additionally, fans are calling upon one of the festival’s headliners, Green Day, to speak up. Billie Joe Armstrong, who came out as bisexual in 1995 and has always been an avid voice for every branch of the LGBTQIA+ community, has outwardly expressed his disdain for the current American administration, as well as the global attack on trans and nonbinary individuals. As of publication, Green Day has not commented on Download Fest or the festival’s bathroom policy.
idobi Radio stands firmly in support of NOAHFINNCE as well as the trans and nonbinary community.
If you or someone you know is in need of support, please utilize the resources available to you, and know that you are not alone.
Trans Lifeline:
Phone: (877) 565-8860 (US) or (877) 330-6366 (Canada).
Text: You can now text Trans Lifeline for support at the same number: (877) 565-8860.
The Trevor Project:
Phone: 1-866-488-7386.
Text: Text START to 678-678.
Online Chat: Available at The Trevor Project website.
The LGBT National Hotline: 1-888-843-4564
