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)

And nothing else on the Internet that is not aimed at them is accessible to children?. Again, why are this organisation being held to a higher standard than others in this regard?

Because no child ever watches something not aimed at them, even if the content is something they are interested in! That confused 11 year olds will go oh no that's probably aimed at adults I'll self censor myself and not watch it!

I think maybe the comment was from the angle of plausible deniability that if children saw it that wasn't the organisers' fault, rather than genuine concern that children might be exposed to this content.

Cross posted

No one has been able to demonstrate why children (without their parents) are being invited to an event for transsexuals and transvestites.

Which is why it’s clear they do not have a safeguarding officer. Because if they had the meeting would have gone like this:

Team Member: Let’s have a trans only swimming session for all ages!

Team: yes! That’s an amazing idea!

Team Member: no parents of course.

Team: yes, of course, we don’t want cis people gawking now do we.

SO: so mixed sex, all ages, no parents? Hmmm…

Team: is that a problem?

SO: well yes, it’s not a good look. You need to either have the parents around or age restrict it.

Team: but the pool we were thinking of using doesn’t have a place like a viewing gallery where parents can sit.

SO: then you can’t have kids at that pool then. You either use a different pool or age restrict the event.

What other organisations that are for ‘all ages’ do this?

Because if you tell me which, I shall happily go and write to them about the appropriateness of an all ages group producing content that is not age appropriate for their youngest target market and not taking appropriate steps to ensure it is not accessible to children who can inappropriately access it.

Again. This is about any organisation who has set themselves up to have such a wide audience.

It is a well known fact that children use social media platforms that they shouldn’t be on. Saying ‘they shouldn’t be on it’ is simply not good enough. Ensuring there are steps to take that prevent them accessing it is the very minimum morally. If the laws states something less, why would an organisation with the best interests of their youngest audience not aim for the very best?

Please do start listing similar organisations posting similar content and I will get cracking.

Name another organisation that organises 'all age' events where children and adults they don't know are freely mingling but parents are not allowed to watch or supervise.......name another orgnaisation that orgnaises 'all ages' events, so caters for kids, that has sexually explicit material right there in all it's social media/website.........

and we will tell you if this organisation is being held to a higher standard or not.

I won't hold my breath though.

But schools! Or something, wibble wibble etc.

Isn't it but schools, but so many of the public pools, pool parties, over 8's, consent forms etc etc

There is no "too high a standard" when it comes to safeguarding. Organisations working with children MUST have a safeguarding lead & transparent policies based on statutory and non statutory guidance. If they're hidden / not available then there's no point in having them.
It requires and investment of time and resources - but only those careless about children's safety would ignore these requirements:

www.gov.uk/guidance/safeguarding-duties-for-charity-trustees

Maybe pass the link on to those you're so desperate to defend?

Childline has some really useful info on their website and message boards about safe sex, masturbating, contraception and porn. All four topics that are visible in the offending video and screen grab posted earlier are covered on the website.

A number of NHS related sites have quite indepth info on these topics also, speficially related to teens but available to all ages.

Childline of the masturbating rubber suited male fame?

Childline of the masturbating rubber suited male fame?

Wasn’t that the NSPCC?

Childline? Interesting that you'd use that as an example of another charity who has similar material.

And yes, many women here are deeply concerned about Childline and have absolutely challenged them over their content.

Any others?

Yes. Thanks for picking that up.

I'm not in the UK so I'll leave you to figure out all the organisations you need to chase up.

So why are you attempting to authoritatively quote them as a source, when you don't know what you're talking about?

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9847741/amp/Man-lost-job-Childline-raising-fears-children-rushed-changing-sex.html

Having looked at the Childline website though they certainly deal with sex, but it is not anything like the way the Rainbow Project deal with sex. I have not read through all the content, but just from the first pages on sex alone, the Rainbow Project is discussing group sex and chem sex.

That is not age appropriate for young children.

Childline have videos too. But the child would have to click through to YouTube. I would hope that any parent would have an age filter on any YouTube app they might have.

Childline are also not, to my knowledge and please correct me if I am wrong, have all age swim sessions where parents are not allowed by the pool edge or told they can stay in a changing room. And nor is the NHS.

What?? I commented that both organisations cater for people under 18 amd have similar content on their websites just as accessible, if not more so, as the organisation being discussed here.

How is that 'authoritatively quoting them as a source'? Give your head a wobble!

Just because they have similar content doesn't mean there aren't safeguarding concerns with said content.

I trust you will be raising the matter with them so. Please share their response if you wouldn't mind.

Again, why are this organisation being held to a higher standard than others in this regard?

It's not. It's being held to the same standard as any other org that works with children. HTH

The real question is why you and others are so keen to stop questions being asked about safeguarding children? What are you hand waving away safeguarding red flags because... trans?

It's wokey types that led to Rotherham etc going on for so long because questions being raised (again mostly by women) were dismissed as discrimination.

All men are equal but some are more equal than others (if they wear a dress).

Don't you know this now Rainbowshit?

I trust you will be raising the matter with them so. Please share their response if you wouldn't mind.

I have already raised concerns with a number of organisations. I don't need to prove anything to internet randoms who don't understand basic safeguarding. Hope this helps.