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Original poster

Leisure centre call police on one woman with a hand sewn #redflag banner

110 replies

WhoopsINameChangedAgain · 28/09/2025 09:45

On Saturday 27 September 2025, in a leafy suburb of Newcastle upon Tyne, one lone woman protested the recent decision to change the leisure centre single sex changing rooms into one mixed sex area with no changes to the changing cubicles.

Despite the peacefulness of the protest, and considerable positive engagement from service users who stopped to chat to her, the staff called the police.

Thankfully the officer was rightly not concerned and happy for her to continue her peaceful protest.

https://x.com/wrn_neandnyorks/status/1972197438363713594?s=46&t=A2fpFNgDRyXF2d6ye97wEA

Pics for those not on twitter; police officer can be seen through doorway behind her.

Leisure centre call police on one woman with a hand sewn #redflag banner
Leisure centre call police on one woman with a hand sewn #redflag banner
OP posts:
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11
MrsM1ggins · 28/09/2025 12:24

Greetings from the flag bearer Grin. I understand that they used to have separate M/F changing rooms but they used the M space to extend the gym and made the F mixed sex. We did manage to speak to a member of staff while we were there (no manager on site) and pointed out that they have created a detriment to women (indirect sex discrimination) and also to women of certain faiths (indirect discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief). Planning to pop in during the week to speak to the manager. I've separately FOId the council for the equality assessment performed before the change and they don't have it - currently trying to see if one was done but I'll not be surprised if it wasn't or if it only considers SOME protected characteristics and ignores others entirely.

midgetastic · 28/09/2025 10:39

falling numbers then ? Cost saving
kiss of death

Original poster
WhoopsINameChangedAgain · 28/09/2025 10:37

LivelyFinch · 28/09/2025 10:29

This pool had 2 changing rooms, have they shut one down or made both unisex?

Shut down one and made the other unisex.

OP posts:
midgetastic · 28/09/2025 10:30

It will only change if overall customer numbers drop or you can prove that it has changed the demographics with far fewer women and girls and an increase in boys - the later seems likely in the short term feok
from what you have said

LivelyFinch · 28/09/2025 10:29

This pool had 2 changing rooms, have they shut one down or made both unisex?

Original poster
WhoopsINameChangedAgain · 28/09/2025 10:27

The gym is used by a lot of local teen boys. I was told by one mum of a teen girl that she doesn’t want to use it, mainly as the new mixed sex changing area is full of young lads. The mum does use it but does not find it as accessible as before and is fully aware of the issues around single sex spaces . There is one toilet near the gym, always in use (people probably change in there.) you must walk through the reception to the mixed sex swimming pool change area if you want to use the loo. From my point of view, taking my son to his swimming lesson, it’s absolutely heaving now and there are no staff in the area.

I do feel less safe using it myself. I now go to a different public pool with separate changing areas.

A colleague was subjected to voyerism at another local pool with a changing village, which did go to court - mainly as she was brave enough to immediately report it and also as the staff there know it happens, and often by who, but struggle to get the evidence. So were determined to make sure he was convicted. It turned out it was not his first offence.

A man who chatted to us yesterday (at one point 3 of us were standing alongside hero woman) told us “a pedo had been thrown out” of this specific leisure centre and seemed to be very aware mixed sex was not a good idea. As in, obviously!

^^

OP posts:
deadpan · 28/09/2025 10:14

Tight arses don't want to spend the required dosh needed to make changing area safe for females. Then try and shift the attention away from that on to a woman making a very reasonable point. It won't show them in a good light in the long run.

Haulage · 28/09/2025 10:09

They should be able to produce it then 🤷‍♀️ very red flaggy not to.

Original poster
WhoopsINameChangedAgain · 28/09/2025 10:01

Anecdotally it seems a number of service users have questioned the decision.

Red flag woman has also tried to
locate the equality impact assessment and the local council do not have a record of one. The leisure centre claims they’ve done one.

OP posts:
Helleofabore · 28/09/2025 09:50

Well done that woman! And great sign- both in the making and the design.

Letting every woman know what to expect inside and If any woman had a concern they could ask the staff.