Trans Swimming sessions

[DaveDave]

Just saw the below event advertised at my local pool. How come this is ok but we can't have biologically female only swimming sessions? I'm annoyed, not because of the event, but because it seems impossible to have female only swimming without being accused of being transphobic.

"Been hoping for a swimming event that's only for trans, non-binary, and/or intersex people? Well, here it is!

To ensure privacy we have booked an entire public pool so it's just for us! Apart from the lifeguards, the rest of the building will be empty too, so there's no need to worry about which changing room to use or people staring. Whether you want to swim laps, float about, or just hang out, you're very welcome. We want these sessions to be accessible to as many people who need them, so if you need a carer who is cisgender to attend with you they are welcome to come along. Parents/guardians are welcome to come and wait in the changing rooms but will not be allowed in the pool or on the poolside.

VENUE: The venue will be given to you during booking to ensure privacy. Please do not advertise this information. You can arrive 15 minutes prior to our swimming session starting, but please note that if you arrive more than 15 minutes late you may be locked out. There is very little phone reception by the pool so you may not be able to get in touch with anyone to let you into the building.

CHANGING FACILITIES: The changing room is gender neutral, wheelchair accessible, and has individual changing and shower cubicles. Before swimming you'll have 15 mins to get ready, and 30 mins at the end.

AGE RANGE: This event is for all ages, but if you're under 18 you'll need to get a consent form signed. Just let us know when you're booking and we'll send you one to bring filled in on the day. Please bear in mind that we do not currently allow cisgender parents and guardians to be in the pool or on the poolside.

DRESS CODE: As always, genitals covered. If you have [insert word you're comfortable using for your chest/boobs/breast tissue] you'll need to have your chest covered too. A rash vest would be best, but if you don't have one or can't afford one a light weight t-shirt is also acceptable.

BOOKING: To book, or ask any questions, contact [email protected]. If you are disabled and need a cisgender carer to attend with you please let me know during booking.

COST: This event is free to attend but as a charity we welcome donations. You can donate on our website

www.rainbow-project.org/donate/ or there will be a donation bucket available at the event.

(redacted)

I understand exactly why you do it

But if you had wanted to go in the pool with your kids, you would have been allowed, yes? Or was it only certain adults allowed?

No, you don't. The words are not the language.

You didn't ask me.

I'm not going to frame it any way, but I will tell you how I read it. That someone who felt there wasn't a place where they could swim and feel safe to present as they wished, now feels they have a place to do so and that means a lot to them.

So, how do ypu read it?

Fern is in that swim film; has long hair though. Now non binary and short haired.

There are women only sessions at pools specifically for women who can be very body conscious.

Fine to have that session for trans adults. Welcome infact, as keeping fit will be v important for heart / blood clotting health (which is a risk factor on cross sex hormones.)

It's women over 18 at my pool.

Still not getting the kids allowed angle.(especially with no parents gawking. Fine for unfamiliar adults to gawk at them though .)

I couldn't agree more.

'Screengrab from the video publicising the Trans Swimming lessons. Note the posters behind the presenter: 'Lubrication', 'STIs', 'Oral Sex', 'Using Condoms'.'

You are all okay with this, yes? This is fine for a kids' swimming lessons ad?

No the excluded people are those who aren’t part of the trans community. You have an agenda so read it as fits your prejudice which you happily admitted to earlier in the thread.

You are fine with the 'Screengrab from the video publicising the Trans Swimming lessons. Note the posters behind the presenter: 'Lubrication', 'STIs', 'Oral Sex', 'Using Condoms', yes?

No - not bigotry. Extensive safeguarding training, qualifications and experience, working at the sharp end. Any adults who set themselves up to work with children about anything - including sex, identity, child health, gender beliefs - must follow the same safeguarding rules.
We know this - every time children are abused or harmed, the serious case reviews show that some adult decided they knew better or were exempt - and the casualties are children.

It's amazing how sticking an LGBT flag on such an event allows people to wave away the multiple red flags. There should be no doubts when it comes to child safeguarding. None whatsoever.

The only reason to see it as excluding parents is if you see it as a threat. And what is the risk here that isn’t a risk at any swimming pool on any given day where children swim unsupervised? And yet you aren’t out campaigning for leisure centers to ban unsupervised children as a safeguarding issue. Why not? If it’s that risky? That concerning? If swimming without parental supervision is that much of a potential risk, why is it allowed?
That was my point too, nobody seems to see it as a safeguarding risk when unaccompanied children swim every day without their parents there.
My teenager swims by themselves now, goes there with friends, I'm not there.
Lots of kids do, it's not unusual to do so.

Right. And do pools generally have posters about 'oral sex' up on the walls? Or are you just going to ignore that glaringly inappropriate advert?

I would say that a parent invested enough in the transgenderism of their child that they would take them to this, and who is completely responsible for that child, is in fact very much part of the transgender community.

I assuming that we're conversing with self interested adults from this group given how defensive they are in the face of considerable evidence that this is not a group with age appropriate policies for working with young children?

This will be the, what, fifth attempt to create a sacred cast.

@BedTaker that's a very good point.

Nobody is going to engage about the posters? No? I wonder why not.

To be fair, I can see that a charity set up for adult sexual health would have these posters on the walls.

But a charity running swimming lessons for 'all ages', and taking responsibility for children of all ages?

That's really not very well thought through, is it?

Parents are not forbidden to use the pool at the same time in those situations though, are they?

They are going to ignore that glaringly inappropriate advert.

And sometimes… just now and again, it’s no bad thing for this board to get some rigorous challenge on the prevailing narrative that it’s ok to have a pop at anything and everything trans people do.
These types of threads do pop up every now and again, and as you say not a bad thing I suppose as it does show it up for what it is

Also, peddling a,narrative to children that their highly supportive parents are not part of their 'community', but other adults who they don't even know are, is also a bit off.

The organization has booked the pool themselves it seems.
If a women's group did the same it would be fine too right?
Not sure what the issue is to be honest - it looks like a 'private party' vibe to me.

Part of the point of this event is to meet people from the same community. That is vastly different to children going to a leisure swim session where an adult talking to them would be an instant red flag.