Hampstead Heath Women's Pond

That absolutely enrages me. So instead of our boundaries being respected, we need education??

No words. No, I don't need to be "educated". Perhaps they do, though? About women's boundaries and rights to privacy and dignity?

a male to female trans customer who has not had top or bottom surgery may still look like a male to others,

May?????

It's the capacity for total self delusion that gets me every time.

Last year Swim England supported Stonewall in creating an LGB&T inclusion toolkit for sports clubs and community groups.

What a fucking surprise. People are being absolutely brainwashed into this shit.

In December, Swim England produced a new guide on trans.

'You may need to do some education work with other centre users who may be concerned when sharing a space with a trans person, especially if a trans customer looks to have different physical characteristics to the gender they are identifying with i.e. a male to female trans customer who has not had top or bottom surgery may still look like a male to others,'

you should enable trans people to use the facilities which they feel to be most appropriate.

www.swimming.org/swimengland/guide-engaging-trans-people-swimming/

I have visions of the stoning scene in Life of Brian.... "are there any women here today?" "no" "no"

I'm giggling into my porridge at the thought....

I have visions of the stoning scene in Life of Brian.... "are there any women here today?" "no" "no"

If perverts are going to be in the women’s pond (and I know that the majority of normal, decent trans women aren’t perverts, however I suspect non trans people who are perverts will say they are trans) then I will use the men’s pond instead and say I’m gender fluid.

You do realise that the water in these ponds is freezing! It is only on the hottest of days that one can idly swim around - usually it's a very bracing experience

I expect almost no Men's Pond user would dream of entering the Ladies Pond. I suspect men who would pretend to be women to visit the Ladies Pond, but have no intention of transitioning via gender reassignment surgery (call them perverts in the absence of a better description), would never go to the Men's Pond. It would not surprise me if these perverts avoid the Men's Pond given its reputation as a place where gay men meet.

So I am not sure that invading the Men's Pond is the answer. Campaigning for their support could be an option, as the users of the Men's Pond could include some who might support you. If only because a threat to the Ladies Pond could be seen as a threat to single gender ponds in general.

Yes busyboys. Chatting.....about football obvs. And doing "bantz"

that's just mean!

What would really get them is if we all swam slowly up and down 4 abreast chatting. Not getting our hair wet. Breaststroke

And given how little many men care about women's privacy and are pompously hectoring us to be more inclusive, I don't give a shiny shit about theirs. They do need a taste. Maybe then they will get it.

I absolutely think the protest should be women using the men's pond. Absolutely. Not more men in the women's. It's very clear that no one gives a shiny shit about that.

I really think a protest of that nature needs to happen. Why should the men continue to be in splendid isolation while the women's pool is coopted by MTFs?

A way to finesse this would be for women to use the men's pond, under the guise of transitioning to men. I have no doubt that cis male complaints would be acted upon, sharpish.

The KLPA committee members issued a statement which said: “The KLPA is committed to helping to create at the Ladies’ Pond an inclusive environment for all women, including transgender women, which is free from discrimination, harassment or victimisation

But the KLPA policy has left female bathers feeling discriminated, harassed and victimised and definitely not included

It seems the Men only pool remains male the mixed pool rains mixed bit the female only pool is no more

it's almost as if there is a difference between managers and customers of the pond.

And almost as if the people in charge felt obliged to put out an "inclusive" social media statement given the news story.

I'm a bather and I'm outraged, will I do?

Errr no, it's almost as if there is a difference between managers and customers of the pond.

The Daily Mail said:
"Female bathers were outraged at the prospect of transitioning men being admitted – despite there being a men’s and a mixed pond available"

The Local swimmers say:
"The KLPA committee members issued a statement which said: “The KLPA is committed to helping to create at the Ladies’ Pond an inclusive environment for all women, including transgender women, which is free from discrimination, harassment or victimisation."

It's almost as if the Daily Mail completely made that story up...

Further to busyboysmum, the website says that membership costs 5 pounds and AGM is usually March. So if enough women from London paid up and went along to the AGM, the policy could be challenged.

www.klpa.org.uk/membership-and-donations.html

My guess is that they're doing what they're told by the City of London Corporation. It would be interesting to know which organization provided those 'transgender awareness training courses'.

busyboysmum thank you for advising us of the legal position. Several of the tests for single sex services seem to be met, especially as there is a mixed and a men's pond.

Do it your glorious nude male finery Elendon