Aurora Bangor

[Gemjow]

Hello everyone!

I’m new here!

For those mothers who align with my sex/gender beliefs (although, the level of abuse a gender critical adult human female receives these days leads me to believe I might be the last woman to be ostracised from society because she acknowledges genitalia)… I thought I’d draw your attention to the gender policy of Bangor Aurora leisure centre. I couldn’t find this online but called and explicitly asked… I was told that their policy is that patrons “are free to use single sex spaces in accordance with which ever gender they identify with, regardless of their stage of transition”.

I cancelled our memberships.

This swimming pool has a unisex changing space with individual cubicles, but have single sex bathrooms with lockers, showers and changing facilities that I have been using with my child, unaware of the policy.

Just leaving this here for anyone else out there who cares…

Gem XX

Perhaps they should take the repeated loss of their roof as a sign.

Hi Gem, that's outrageous. Have you written to explain why you won't use their facilities?

I’m glad I’m not on my own with this one! I haven’t written yet, but I will and I have messaged my local MP as well. I was waiting on a response from Aurora with regard to where exactly this information is publicly available to make people know this… I’ve just got this response (photo below), which has made my blood boil, because this information is not on their website, I have had to specifically request it. The equality policy on their website was updated 26 November… this should have been included.

Why on paper have single sex facilities when it's clearly now unisex?

Anyhow, none of the transition journey or stages make sense as people are always of one sex, it's in their very being.

What happens in these facilities when a man who has had breast implants and his appendage removed and calls himself a woman finds he has to undress around men who haven't changed physically at all?
He's really going to complain isn't he, after all, he'll say men shouldn't be in women's spaces? And certain men know how to complain!

Best these places go back to single sex and be honest! Go woke, go broke.

Well done for raising it. I hope you get somewhere.

I think it might be all the leisure facilities in Ards and North Down, not just Aurora.

Aurora Bangor would be a great name for a Drag Queen, tbf.

Worth challenging them about aspects of criminal law. Indecent exposure and voyeurism are criminal offences. Ask them how they will deal with a man flashing at girls and women in the changing room? What measures are they taking to ensure that women and girls can undress without a man being able to w secretly watch and film them?

Two crimninal offences that the council appear to be decriminalising

I never thought I’d fucking say this, but - you could always go to your local DUP MLA and ask them for support? I’d say they would.

Well, funny you should say that. I messaged Alex Easton who is my local MP and told him about this and told him how wrong and directly contradictory to the centre safeguarding policy this was, and asked what I should do… he very kindly gave me an email address of the manager of the leisure centre and fecked away back down the hole of escapism. This is what we’re up against!

🙈 How very helpful of him.

I've followed the link and looked up "changing rooms" and what came up was a link to the EHRC, which give separate single sex changing rooms as one of their examples - I can't see how they are following that advice! Their own website is linking to advice that contradicts their practice!

Yup. They clearly don't understand the term single-sex (or have taken advice from IW and BU).

UK Active transgender policy
https://www.ukactive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Transgender-Guidance-22-11-2022.pdf
Basically, say yes, always, all the time. No reference to those women who may be unable to attend classes due to this policy due to religion/race/or just because they don’t want to undress with men.

Parts of the policy actually expects staff to decide if the customer is presenting in a different gender to the one they say (assume this is to stop men changing with women, unless they are wearing lipstick, in which case it’s ok).
Reference to Stonewall and Gendered Intelligence

This has just completely infuriated me. And yes, I noticed the staff discretion element as well which is horrendous. It’s individualising ‘blame’ either way.

I also wondered if I dandered into a male leisure space, in the nude, and lathered up in the shower beside the husband of one of these liberal trans inclusive “feminists”, and said “pardon the lovely big soapy boobs, I’m actually a man!”, would they be happy enough when the shoe is on the other foot… because I’m tempted!

Young teenage girls use these facilities for swimming squad by themselves. Mums take their little girls in there. Women who deserve single sex, safe spaces, are once again, trodden over to appease men (in frilly knickers).

Ah my daughter goes here for her swimming lessons with the school, this is worrying.

i found the Ards and North down guidance, section 4 in the link below, where it states that transgender people can choose single sex spaces as they wish.

https://leisureardsandnorthdown.com/sites/default/files/2022-01/Leisure%20Ards%20and%20North%20Down%20Admissions%20Policy.pd

Found this too - I’m not a TUV fan but they have it spot on! https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/ards-north-down-cllr-faced-30833749.amp