Hampstead women's pond goes trans

[Bouledeneige]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-48380940

It's a very special women's place. Now does have changing rooms - they are very busy at peak times but not all the time. There aren't many young girls there - you have to be able to swim independently as you cant touch the bottom in the ponds - but its definitely a very special place that has felt 'very owned' by women.

The Kenwood Ladies' Pond Association said it welcomed the decision.

A spokeswoman said: "The Ladies' Pond is a single sex space and the KLPA is committed to helping to create there an inclusive environment for all women, including transgender women, which is free from discrimination, harassment or victimisation."

Some confusion there: "a single sex space" yet "transgender women". I wonder if the KLPA thinks that a transgender woman is a biological female.

They made this decision last summer. The consultation was designed to back up their decision.

Swimmers on Hampstead Heath will be able to use ponds "aligning with their gender identity", the City of London Corporation's (CoLC) has said

Admission will be granted on a case-by-case basis under the policy

What does this actually mean in practice?

They have excluded some women by adopting this policy. I hope they are ashamed when they realise the impact to women from religious backgrounds but I doubt they give a rats chuff.

How on earth can they say single sex, yet let the opposite sex in ? Are they a bunch of idiots ?
I have swum in the pond, and the all-female environment was so lovely, no lechy men, no stress about changing. I feel totally gutted by this, that this precious little space has gone. It has made me really angry all day. I would not swim there now, and I really wanted to go there with my daughters.
Feels really sad.

I expect case-by-case means any male-bodied person can access the women's pond but women can't access the men's pond.

Yes, i imagine that will be what happens. Women should start using the men’s pond en masse.

Saw the programme the other day about The Hampstead Ponds, "Swimming through the Seasons" on the BBC which covered both the men and womens' pools and the mixed. It was really gratifying to hear how cathartic swimming was for the participants interviewed, many had had life changing illnesses and bereavements. Swimming was literally the one thing they lived for. Many women, I imagine feel more comfortable in the women only environment, possibly if they felt vulnerable after surgery, certain religious persuasions won't have a choice, they can't use the mixed pool, the transwomen could of course do that Many women will be forced to abandon an activity that adds so much to their lives, I really feel for them. How stupid this new ruling is.

I have been swimming in Hampstead ladies pond since I was 8 years old. It's a very special place for women. It's a place just for women and that's partly why it's so wonderful.

Many women feel safe enough to sunbath topless etc.

There is also a men's pond and a MIXED gender pond .. also very nice and about 5 mins away. Why can't non-biologically female people swim in the mixed pond. I do, if I'm with hubby or a group of mates. It's nice!
No need for the women's pond to be changed when there's an inclusive option already available.

@Susanna88 are regular long term swimmers like yourself mobilising and speaking out about this? I’d be happy to contribute to a crowdfunder.

I hope they are ashamed when they realise the impact to women from religious backgrounds

And the women with disabilities who can't do the social lies/cognitive hoop jumping involved. And the ones who have experienced dv, sexual assault and trauma and can't just conveniently 'get over it' on command. They're excluded too.

TW: Three ponds to choose from. Women with boundaries: 0. No access allowed.

And of course the biggest group of women excluded, also protected under the human rights act: those who exercise their freedom of belief and perceive TW as males.

I notice Stonewall and others brazenly lying about the Equalities act in the BBC article and claiming that it was illegal to enforce single sex spaces.

”Why can't non-biologically female people swim in the mixed pond.”

Because biological women cannot be allowed to have anything specifically for them, @Susanna88. Because their safety and freedom don’t matter, to the strident trans activists. Because the trans activists don’t want equality with women, they want to erase them.

A very wise MNer said that women have fought long and hard for our single seat at the table, but the trans activists want to take it from us. It isn’t enough for them to have their own seat at the table - they want ours. It doesn’t matter that this means biological women will end up with no seat at the table.

As Shon Faye - a trans activist said - ‘Women - enjoy ur erasure’.

A spokeswoman said: "The Ladies' Pond is a single sex space and the KLPA is committed to helping to create there an inclusive environment for all women, including transgender women, which is free from discrimination, harassment or victimisation."

My faith in most people’s basic intelligence and ability to grasp simple logical concepts was sadly misplaced for all those years, clearly.

There seems to be no end to the stupidity and dishonesty that this “trans rights” masquerade is revealing.

Fucking awful. Fucking wokeness. I've got the rage after reading that. Why is it so hard for some people to understand what a woman is?!

@SexPayGap
No. To be honest I had heard it mentioned last summer that they may allow transgender women to use the ladies pond, but I don't think I really registered at the time what this would mean and how it would really impact on the ladies pond community.

I haven't been yet this year (always wait until it warms up a bit!) so I have no idea if there will be petitions etc. I haven't found any online.

I will aim to visit over the weekend and see if there is any additional info available (or whispers about uprisings).

Slightly separate note, but there used to be these very scary, very strict 'battle axe' life guards keeping watch many years ago. I remember once a man peeping (perving) through some bushes and she wasn't afraid to use a big, heavy stick to see him off! She was rather wonderful. Those were the days.

It sounds like a wonderful place, I wished I lived nearer as nothing beats swimming outside. Keep us posted if there is anything we can do.

I think it is a huge change. I've been going to the women's pond for such a long time and it has a very special atmosphere - it is ours! I've been there for years and now go with my DD. Skirted by trees, there's herons and a resident pair of kingfisher's. But its not just the nature that surrounds it - is a safe and very owned women's space. Its a huge mistake.

I do wonder how this was presented to the KLPA. There's enough evidence of how language gets mangled by the TRAs, so they might not have understood that "transgender women" actually means people-with-penises. Looking at their website, they do seem women-centric, so I think they may have been bamboozled.

They know what they're doing. The Man Friday women raised it and when they tried to self id and use the men only pond, the police were called.

The brilliantly fierce life guards to keep away peeping Toms ! Agree they were fab.
Also agree that there are three ponds, one of the three was just for women, now men can use all three.

AlunWynsKnee - of course, the Man Friday campaign. So the KLPA have no excuse. That's shameful.

Hi

There are already 2 threads on this!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3592053-City-of-London-Consultation-Results-they-cant-get-away-with-this?pg=1

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3593218-Judicial-review-of-City-of-Londons-decision?pg=1

Are transmen allowed to swim in the mens pond?

It is disgusting. A blatant men's sexual rights campaign.

If you are on twitter have a check and see if you are blocked by @edwardlord.

If you are fill in the form forms.gle/sL1ZjrLBm8SJdZcq6

.... it will help to show how biased the consultation was.