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Original poster

Womens sauna is for 'those who identify as women'

66 replies

Pigriver · 01/12/2025 16:42

Hi everyone,
I have spent the last year or so quietly reading and can only discuss these issues IRL with a few select friends as many are flag flying allies.
A local community enterprise has opened a community sauna with a range of sessions. Mainly mixed sessions with special session options of
*Unclothed
*Trans friendly
*Female (for anyone who identifies as female)

But no actual female only.

I would like to contact them but it will clearly 'out' me as GC in a community I work and live in and have friends and acquaintances that may have connection with this community group. I hate that speaking out about a matter that is important for me could be social and career suicide. Options to contact at the moment seems to be an online contact form that needs my name and email.
So WWYD?

OP posts:
Original poster
Pigriver · 01/12/2025 18:24

Also I've just checked back and they don't have a men's session....
What about the poor men who don't want to uncomfortably look away from boobs. Just give us a range of single sex and mixed sessions.
The only non clothed sessions are 'mixed gender'

OP posts:
IwantToRetire · 01/12/2025 18:23

Do you live in an area that still has a local paper?

If so you could check that they will print a letter that is annonymous (but may mean they need to know who you are) in which you could set out your concerns.

Not just the Supreme Court ruling and that it isn't legal to advertise as they have (as mentioned by PP) and you cant understand why everyone else is catered for but (biological) women aren't.

Especially as many women whatever the culture, age or beliefs feel safer and more comfortable in biological women only sessions, as permitted under the EA.

That way you could find out if others are concerned.

Assuming any one is interested in going to a sauna.

OpheliaWitchoftheWoods · 01/12/2025 18:23

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Original poster
Pigriver · 01/12/2025 18:20

Thanks all. I think the easiest thing to do would be to use an old email that doesn't identify me and politely voice concerns.

Unfortunately I'm not willing to go to a women's session and just hope there are no TIM as then it would be very uncomfortable to voice my concerns without being confrontational and sounding like a bigot.

I also don't want to go in all guns blazing as the site they use is actually an amazing community resource but in trying to be inclusive has actually excluded a lot of customers.

I don't hate trans folk but I also don't want to share a sauna with a penis.

To the person who said 'speak out it's not 2022' I wish. One friend has removed Harry Potter from her child's bookshelf and another has a trans child. My BFF is gay with a NB child and every other combination of letters between them. I love them all and we have lots in common but on this issues we are poles apart.

OP posts:
Largestlegocollectionever · 01/12/2025 17:28

If you want to put them on here then maybe someone else local can attend and email them?

OpheliaWitchoftheWoods · 01/12/2025 17:27

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

OpheliaWitchoftheWoods · 01/12/2025 17:24

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

ParmaVioletTea · 01/12/2025 17:22

Could you contact them in the guise of friendly concern that not offering something for women when they are offering trans, mixed, and presumably men's sessions, might be in contravention of the Equality Act as clarified by the Supreme Court, which specifies that "woman" means sex, not gender. ie biological women.

Just say you're concerned that they might be opening themselves up to an expensive legal challenge. Then you appear as an ally, but pointing out the law.

BettyBooper · 01/12/2025 17:18

Yes, do this.

tripleginandtonic · 01/12/2025 17:10

MotherofPufflings · 01/12/2025 17:05

Honestly? I'd pick my battles and only complain if trans-identifying men were actually using the female-only sessions.

Others may feel differently but this is a very difficult situation unless you have ovaries of steel and not everyone does.

Might be too late then, personally I'd want clarification before i showed up and be definite I'd only attend if it was sexed based.

AreYouSureAskedNaomi · 01/12/2025 17:08

Is this in the UK?

Whenever I have been in a sauna in northern Europe they have been nude and strictly sex-segregated. If your community sauna doesn't have sex segregation then what on earth does trans friendly mean in this context?

MotherofPufflings · 01/12/2025 17:05

Honestly? I'd pick my battles and only complain if trans-identifying men were actually using the female-only sessions.

Others may feel differently but this is a very difficult situation unless you have ovaries of steel and not everyone does.

MrsOvertonsWindow · 01/12/2025 17:00

Out them to the press? They're becoming increasingly interested and reporting on men demanding access to undressed women - including by subterfuge.

SummerSunAndFun · 01/12/2025 16:49

It's not 2022 any more. Raise your concerns and you'll likely find many others agree with you.

BaronessBomburst · 01/12/2025 16:47

Make a new Gmail account and use a different name.

Gettingbysomehow · 01/12/2025 16:44

Well I won't be going, I don't want to see penis and testicles when I go for an unclothed women only sauna and yes I would be kicking up a stink.

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