Changing rooms - again

[AgathaMystery]

Hi all…

Email today from my daughter’s swim coach reminding parents that if they are in a changing room with the children present it must be the changing room that aligns with the parents sex/gender.

I asked for clarification about which it is, sex or gender & have been sent this: Under current UK law anyone who identifies as a woman can use facilities such as female changing rooms.

Is this absolutely true? I’ve of course been told I can choose for her not to do sessions where I’m unhappy with the changing facilities.

I would be asking: are you right in understanding that your daughter must either use mixed sex changing or be excluded from swimming?

Well quite.

So the issue is no adult should be in the changing rooms when the children are in there. If your child does need help then you must take them in the changing room that aligns with your (the parents) gender.

So I can see they are doing their best. God I’m tired of this.

No, it isn't absolutely true. It is a conscious choice the coach, facilities, have made. They could just as easily choose to maintain single sex spaces simply by choosing to do so, as it would be a fiar and proportionate choice.

So yes, maybe do ask if they really meant to say that you and your DD must accept mixed sex spaces or be exlcuded

Here is the UK law, see for yourself. Specifically the bullet point

they may be used by more than one person and a woman might object to the presence of a man (or vice versa);

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/notes/division/3/16/20/7

Thank you so much. I really am so grateful.

I’ve sent a reply. I feel absolutely sick.

The thing is, this isn’t going away. Their position is partly ‘your daughter doesn’t need help changing’ and I agree. But soon she will be a teen they will let teen boys in with her.

Gods sake.

Another question for them:

Do you intend to force families to disclose sensitive information in order to gain the protection of the Equality Act for a single sex space? How is this not discriminatory?

It is perfectly possible to provide the very small minority of those who would prefer not to change with members of their birth sex with a private and discreet alternative, without depriving the majority of female people of single sex provision. There should be an entitlement to suitable changing facilities by need, so that all have equal access. That's inclusion. There is not an entitlement to access females in a state of undress, and for females to either be compelled to provide themselves consenting or not, or to be excluded. That's not on. And you could check this by taking it to court if need be.

Ffs.

(I shouldn't add that bit, but I can't help it.)

Thanks @Artichokeleaves - it’s feels endless doesn’t it.

Like, girls, I’m tired of this suit now. Is anyone else tired of it? My girl goes to
a GDST school (thank god) so there is some sanity but I feel like I’m always fighting this battle.

Does anyone else feel tired by it?
& thank you all. Loads x

s this absolutely true? I’ve of course been told I can choose for her not to do sessions where I’m unhappy with the changing facilities.

It isn't true if it's a proportionate action to achieve a legitimate aim (or words to that effect). The legitimate aim in this case would be safeguarding of children, wouldn't it?

Email today from my daughter’s swim coach reminding parents that if they are in a changing room with the children present it must be the changing room that aligns with the parents sex/gender.

So if a male child needs help, and the parent who is there to help is a male who identifies as a woman, they should use the girls' changing room?

This is not an impossible scenario. Many late-transitioning males have (sometimes very young) children. For example Helen Belcher transitioned when Helen's children were quite young.

It might be worth asking if the club's/ facilities insurers are happy to cover the additional risk of mixed sex changing rooms? I find that money or the thought of litigation concentrates the mind wonderfully.

Female is not a gender and changing rooms under the law are provided based on sex, not gender.

Changing rooms are either mixed sex or single sex. They are not single gender or single sex apart from a few people of the opposite sex.

It's far more important that the adult is in the correct changing room than a young child. Anyone in there will feel much more awkward with an opposite sex adult.

It's probably worth people asking these people writing this drivel for various sports for a copy of the following policies:
Safeguarding
Sexual harassment
Complaints policy
Details of their insurers.

That might make them consider some of the consequences ....