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Original poster

Gender free non binary man swim

37 replies

VeniceAllan · 25/05/2019 23:19

I went to the Highgate Men's Bathing Pond on Hampstead Heath and so should you!

Here are my thoughts before and after Smile

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DpWm · 26/05/2019 15:35

I don't see the point of doing this. We should be fighting to make the women's pond women only
Women are trying and have relentlessly tried to keep the women's for women only, via the usual methods of writing, filling in a consultation (and getting our response rejected). Women have been ignored and called nasty names like "bigot" or "terf".

Basically the point is, to make men realise it effects them too, and when men kick up a fuss, changes are made.

tobee · 26/05/2019 15:05

Thank you for having the bravery to do this!

Outanabout · 26/05/2019 13:40

Haha that took a minute!

sackrifice · 26/05/2019 13:30

Hurray for Venice Allan!

Allan Venice.

Outanabout · 26/05/2019 13:23

Hurray for Venice Allan!

Original poster
VeniceAllan · 26/05/2019 13:02

The point of doing this is that the women's Pond has already become mixed sex. My mum won't go there now because of this policy. I shall continue to protest dip at the Men's until this changes.

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sackrifice · 26/05/2019 12:36

And why can't trans people just use the existing mixed pond?

Indeed.

It shows why there literally is no point arguing about a third space. They don't want it.

They want ours and for the women to back away and not pipe up because they have no boundaries any more. And who knows what sorts of people don't want women and girls to pipe up when then see wrong things, I can't imagine.

SecretNutellaFix · 26/05/2019 12:33

Micaela, because it won't validate their feelings.

Micaela64 · 26/05/2019 12:12

I don't see the point of doing this. We should be fighting to make the women's pond women only, not making both ponds mixed up. Two wrongs don't make a right.

And why can't trans people just use the existing mixed pond? Envy

Original poster
VeniceAllan · 26/05/2019 11:53

I think we are more powerful on our own or small groups. The amazing Man Friday already did a big action last summer there which was fabulous and got a lot of attention. Now we just need to drip drip drip on the menz.

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Charley50 · 26/05/2019 11:47

You're probably right about not bringing men to the Ladies Pond. Unless there was a major incident it would only be used against us. I'm up for going to the men's as part of a group action.

Original poster
VeniceAllan · 26/05/2019 11:18

I think when I had gone for my swim, all the men would have talked about it and when I came back they all ignored me, except the Spanish guy who came outside to talk to me. He was v confused about it, his English wasn't great. I think he believed that was a gender free non binary man Grin

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sackrifice · 26/05/2019 10:55

While I was swimming about 5 men got in the pool and there were 2 lifeguards.

Sorry for being picky, I was just interested in the stats of how many that actually saw you decided to say something. As opposed to those that just didn't realise [they were in the presence of Allan Venice - OMG - ahem - as you were].

Original poster
VeniceAllan · 26/05/2019 10:48

There were about 10 guys in the changing/sunbathing area. I don't know about the nude sunbathing as I didn't go in there! While I was swimming about 5 men got in the pool and there were 2 lifeguards.

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LangCleg · 26/05/2019 10:47

I don't think we should bring men to the Ladies' pond. I think we need to bring this issue to the men and get them to change the policy.

Concur. Men, who are under no physical threat from this, nor any threat of being subject to voyeurism, seem to think it's absolutely fine to object on the basis simply of I don't like it. This, coming from women, is apparently clear evidence of bigotry.

Original poster
VeniceAllan · 26/05/2019 10:47

Men dressed as women have been going to the pond on the sly forever, I expect. They confirmed they were trans inclusive last year and then commissioned a consultation and recently updated the policy to clarify their position.

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sackrifice · 26/05/2019 10:32

Allan. Thanks bro for the vid.

Now, how many other men did you see at the pond in total, and how many other men approached and questioned you.

I got that there were 2 men swimming, one official and yourself. And of those 3 other men, all 3 approached you?

DpWm · 26/05/2019 10:28

Also more questions

If we/men/the general public DO object to the change in the rules, who specifically do you contact?

DpWm · 26/05/2019 10:27

More women should definitely do this.
*VeniceAllen"
Really you've seen men swimming at the ladies pond loads?
I thought the rules were only changed recently...

Erythronium · 26/05/2019 10:20

I love the way you confided to the recording that "I'm not really a man".

Well done, brother. Gender free non binary men have rights to swim too.

Original poster
VeniceAllan · 26/05/2019 10:03

I don't think we should bring men to the Ladies' pond. I think we need to bring this issue to the men and get them to change the policy.

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AnyOldPrion · 26/05/2019 09:00

Rolling my eyes that it’s you “cheapening a sensitive issue”.

The men who have been invading the women’s pond are, of course, deeply sensitive and utterly innocent.

His comments to you are “literal violence”.

Charley50 · 26/05/2019 08:54

The ladies pond is so idyllic and peaceful, had no idea the men's was warmer! This is all a power play isn't it? Trans women, aka men, have no reason to feel afraid at the men's pond as it's a largely gay and peaceful space. Gay men aren't known for going around beating people up.
It's all just validation and control, including deciding 1000s of responses were invalid.

I feel sorry for the lifeguards at the Ladies Pond. How do they differentiate between a real translady (man) or a man just taking advantage of the new rules? Should we get all our male friends and family to head to the Ladies Pond one day, insisting they're women, and film the ridiculousness of it?

OldCrone · 26/05/2019 08:22

I am also interested though in the specifics and numbers of those of the opposite sex who have identified as a different gender who actually attend sex specific places as their chosen gender.

You might find this thread informative, SD1978.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3348290-It-will-never-happen-resource-thread

Original poster
VeniceAllan · 26/05/2019 07:25

How can we possibly know how many men are swimming at the ladies pond? I have seen them there several times.

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