Turns out Hampstead swimming ponds are single SEX after all ...

[PencilsInSpace]

... at least the men's pond is

Well done to the fabulous #ManFriday gents for exposing this rank hypocricy! Splendid work, chaps

Well done Sweary.

Brilliant! Well done for exposing this crap! Love the photos, the police look mightily amused. Who called them???

Is SarahAr studying for a law degree? That's quite funny.

I think the lifeguards did due to complaints. I had a lovely chat with one of them and he said he had to call it in, whilst I said we had to protest and it wasn’t to him (who has to deal with this shit) and we were grateful for his professionalism.

There was a suggestion that some of the men were about to massively kick off, so that’s why they wanted us out. So women have to give way to violent men...

Cross-post. Thanks for the update, Sweary. Goes to show how mad and ridiculous the whole thing is. Keep up the good work. x

Forgive me for repeating myself.

But: yay ManFriday people. You are awesome!

Secondly: look to the anger. Look to the twitter man who was furious about the intrusion and re-tweeted a tweet that shouted 'TRANSWOMEN ARE WOMEN'.

These men are not 'pro-trans rights'. Otherwise they'd be pro-'transmen' who should be able to go for a swim in the men's pool, just like Amy and Sweary G and the other 'transmen' who id as men.

Ask yourselves, why are these men angry at the demonstration, but not shouting for the rights of transmen to swim in the men's pool rather than the Man Friday 'interlopers' (who aren't technically!).

The answer is right in front of you.

This is not a true trans issue. it is a male rights issue. They want to be wherever they want to be. Whether it's a male or female space. And at the root of this, it's female spaces under threat.

And the men will fight for that. Not for you as a woman.

Did the lifeguards themselves ask you to leave before the coppers were called?

True heroes, all of you.

There was a suggestion that some of the men were about to massively kick off, so that’s why they wanted us out. So women have to give way to violent men...

This sums up the entire situation doesn't it? Women must give way to violent men, no matter whether they are in our spaces or we are in theirs. Wherever a conflict arises, women must GTFO and STFU because male violence.

Gender sadfeelz butter no parsnips in the face of this.

Just had a look on the Man Friday Twitter. linky

That tattoo with the suffragette colours is brilliant. Is that a real tattoo Sweary?

Have you thought of merchandising for ManFriday?

Stick me down for some coasters.

No we weren’t asked to leave before they called the cops. They didn’t even want to speak to me when I first approached them, but when they realised I wasn’t a Wanker they were ok with conversation.

The people outside doing leafleting said that when the pigs (am trying to get as many slang police terms in as possible) got out of their car they were very aggressive and angry, and this played out a bit when we first spoke. The magic email (effectively a note from my mum) took the wind out of their sails. It was quite intimidating when they first barrelled in, all 3 of them to deal with a dozen docile feminists.

Sweary G you are magnificent, as are the rest of the Man Mondays.

No it’s a transfer, Popchyk. I probably will get one done at some point because this is a very powerful time in my life and my tattoos remind me of important stuff. I’ll probably put it somewhere less noticeable though.

I admire your bravery in the face of theHampstead Constabulary the feds.

This is brilliant. Well done. We are so grateful you are doing this!

But it's so fascinating that the objection was 'transwoman are women'!

Because that's so utterly irrelevant to a situation where a bunch of self id-ing chaps are in the Men's Pond.

Either one is totally in favour of them doing so - transmen having a swim in the manly pond, how lovely - OR one is not, because uppity not really men types how very dare they.

I can't quite compute the cognitive dissonance required to argue that 'these people are not properly trans or entitled to be in male spaces THEREFORE I'm cross about this because it somehow means I need to shout about some other people being definitely trans, & therefore entitled to be in female spaces'.

It's hilarious & excellent to see, whilst simultaneously being thoroughly depressing!

"You self righteous bellend" is now my insult for the week - genius turn of phrase.

And Sweary and your fellow chaps. Well done. Dude-ovaries of steel.

I think there is an assumption and an expectation by men that all the trans whichever way they identify will use the women's, so the men won't be bothered.

I'm beyond impressed at how you handled all of this and how brave you are. Gold plated ovaries indeed.

Swearing is my superpower Fermats

Can somebody please explain what they mean? I'm sorry, I have some learning difficulties and I'm really lost. I live by those ponds, but have never been swimming in them. Have never dared to go swimming in them. Are they really single sex? I have heard of the ladies pond.

Congratulations from the other side of the world! Amazing hypocrisy (particularly from that twitter man...)
Just saw the Mail article. It's excellent. Hopefully the hard of thinking on that site will finally understand the point of #manfriday. Looking forward to the comments.

hellokitty there are three ponds. A men’s pond, a women’s pond and a mixed pond. These ponds have always been segregated by sex but the trans rights activists have pushed that the women’s pond needs to be single gender instead. So anyone who “identifies as a woman” is allowed to swim, with their penis, in the women’s pond. We swam at the men’s pond to point out that we all want single sex spaces. There’s a bloody mixed pond for people who don’t want a single sex space.

We went to the ladies pond afterwards and it is a really lovely space. Lots of room to sunbathe and chill without being subject to the male gaze. I highly recommend it.