AIBU to think councils shouldn't be allowed to block female only spaces?

[UnimatrixZeroOne]

I’ve just seen this and I’m really shocked.

A group of lesbians asked Southwark Council for a small disused unit to run as a female-only community space. They offered to pay rent and charges and said any suitable council unit would do.

The council refused purely because it would be single-sex. That decision is now going to court under the Equality Act.

Surely if men’s and trans groups can get council support, women should too? Why should taxes be wasted fighting something that should be obvious — that women deserve at least one lawful space of our own?

AIBU to think the council is completely out of line here?

If the council refused because it's single sex then you would need to find some properties that are single sex male only ones to make a fair comparison don't you think?

What men's and trans spaces do Southwark Council provide?

Don’t be so ridiculous.

You know this isn't the case and are being deliberately vague. One person (and quite a polarising one at that) demanded that the council granted her group sole use of a finite resource and then has had a tantrum when they didn't give her everything she asked for.

No, I don’t think so. Just show proportionate need for a women only space.

Thanks OP for sharing. L Commnunity is our group. The council refusal was not about property availability but about being female-only. That decision is now before the court as the first legal test of its kind under the Equality Act. The outcome will decide whether councils can block women’s spaces in the future. Fingers crossed.