Turns out Hampstead swimming ponds are single SEX after all ...

Well, where to start.

According to the rules we are men because we say so. That self ID is accepted by Hampstead Ponds is glossed over. “campaigners say” is dismissive, the service providers say we can self ID in.

We weren’t forced to leave. We were asked if we would, so we did. There was no animosity or troublemaking. I think this is an important point because we were polite and kind.

Peter John is of the opinion that men are men and women are women. He was totally on board but has been selectively quoted.

If men turn up at the women’s pond and claim to be women they can enter.

And we had permission. I emailed the corporation and checked what their policy was, the police were nonplussed because they have their bylaws that don’t match the rules. I shared the email with the DM journo and she quoted the police officer but not us on that point.

We gave them so much information and they made us look like fringe loonies.

The police have basically said there that if any men turn up to the women's pond tgey will kick them out.

So that's good.

I think it mostly came across well too. I love the fact that they said they'd turf men out of the women's pond too as both ponds were single sex spaces and that the "rules need clarity".

I’m really enjoying Mip’s internal monologue play out in real time. 😂

Also why do I never proof my posts?

Why the bloody he'll does strikeout only work part time?!

I don't know what they didn't missed but I thought it came across well. Lots of men so they'll be listened to saying it was ridiculous and PC Mace saying rules needed clarifying. It was clear about the proposed legislation too. I think it could get the word out.

And the beard was amazing.

I’m interested to hear what points were missed BTW.

Don’t be too despairing. It mentions the upcoming consultation. It makes clear the concern is about predatory men using new gender laws to access women’s spaces. It got across the point that, when confronted by people of the opposite sex in their pool, men weren’t keen either - it’s not just women who would like to retain their single sex facilities.

Here

Read it and sob quietly whilst thinking that all the points you painstakingly made to the journalist were missed or ignored.

Can't find the mail article. Anyone have a link?

Way to go gentlemen!

your names will be on a plaque one day

Love that thought! Modern day suffragettes

Absolutely this.

Oh god that DM article is terrible. It misses the point entirely. Fucking idiots.

Thank you swear e.g.. I will get to it one of these days.

And if the staff have been trained, why would they not be trained both ways?

Well I think the staff have been trained in the woke new rules.

Which, as we have now seen, are contrary to the bye laws - at least regarding the women's pond.

But the email indicates that you can self identify at either pond?

But the police say that's bollocks.

Amirite?

So all clear for the summer season then?

hellokitty there are three ponds. A men’s pond, a women’s pond and a mixed pond. These ponds have always been segregated by sex but the trans rights activists have pushed that the women’s pond needs to be single gender instead. So anyone who “identifies as a woman” is allowed to swim, with their penis, in the women’s pond. We swam at the men’s pond to point out that we all want single sex spaces. There’s a bloody mixed pond for people who don’t want a single sex space.

We went to the ladies pond afterwards and it is a really lovely space. Lots of room to sunbathe and chill without being subject to the male gaze. I highly recommend it.

Congratulations from the other side of the world! Amazing hypocrisy (particularly from that twitter man...)
Just saw the Mail article. It's excellent. Hopefully the hard of thinking on that site will finally understand the point of #manfriday. Looking forward to the comments.

Can somebody please explain what they mean? I'm sorry, I have some learning difficulties and I'm really lost. I live by those ponds, but have never been swimming in them. Have never dared to go swimming in them. Are they really single sex? I have heard of the ladies pond.

Swearing is my superpower Fermats

I'm beyond impressed at how you handled all of this and how brave you are. Gold plated ovaries indeed.

I think there is an assumption and an expectation by men that all the trans whichever way they identify will use the women's, so the men won't be bothered.

"You self righteous bellend" is now my insult for the week - genius turn of phrase.

And Sweary and your fellow chaps. Well done. Dude-ovaries of steel.

But it's so fascinating that the objection was 'transwoman are women'!

Because that's so utterly irrelevant to a situation where a bunch of self id-ing chaps are in the Men's Pond.

Either one is totally in favour of them doing so - transmen having a swim in the manly pond, how lovely - OR one is not, because uppity not really men types how very dare they.

I can't quite compute the cognitive dissonance required to argue that 'these people are not properly trans or entitled to be in male spaces THEREFORE I'm cross about this because it somehow means I need to shout about some other people being definitely trans, & therefore entitled to be in female spaces'.

It's hilarious & excellent to see, whilst simultaneously being thoroughly depressing!

This is brilliant. Well done. We are so grateful you are doing this!