Harrogate Turkish Baths - more to this story?

[IsabelleSE19]

Saw this article on p2 of the i newspaper this weekend, and the way it was written caught my eye. Did a quick search and found a thread on here from 2021 about a consultation about whether to have mixed-sex sessions. It looks like they decided to continue with single-sex, swimsuit optional sessions but now there has been an 'incident' - can any locals shed any light?

Is my photo visible?!

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/people/harrogate-turkish-baths-bans-naked-use-of-victorian-facility-and-makes-swimwear-compulsory-after-serious-incident-4067087

Just in case the photo didn't work - also on BBC. But in the i they phrased it 'previously had single-sex sessions'

no :(

sorry, cross posted

thestrayferret.co.uk/harrogate-turkish-baths-bans-nude-bathers/

Gah, sorry, don't know what I'm doing wrong!

According to the Stray Ferret report above it was a male bather who alerted the media to the change. This from a couple of years ago
www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/politics/council/harrogate-turkish-baths-set-to-u-turn-on-move-to-mixed-sex-sessions-only-3204075

I think there were some issues previously with men in the male sessions behaving inappropriately, the article mentions that the male sessions had previously been stopped for some reason.

I live in Harrogate and know the Manager of the Turkish Baths and not heard anything about this!

A separate report said while there has been an increase in mixed-sex sessions over the last year, there was "concern" around access for those of varying gender categories including transgender, gender dysphoria and transsexual.

"This is due to the potential access to single sex sessions by someone of technically the opposite sex, especially to those sessions where swimwear is optional," the report said.

I've no insider knowledge (at all) on this one, but concerns about behaviour in mainstream venues like this one (as opposed to a dedicated gay bath house) are mostly about the all-male sessions.

Should one be more concerned that the 'Cultural Appropriation Police' will close the baths down?

(Only joking, after all, I eat Fry's Turkish Delight myself, occasionally.)

I was just thinking that, I've had a morning marveling at Americans getting CULTURAL APPROPRIATION angry at a stripey skirt...despite ribbons/stripes being a feature of many different cultures traditional dress.

Ooh can you point me in the direction of their frothy outrage so I can laugh at them please?

I don't understand what the manager meant by: "Making the wearing of swimwear compulsory at all single-sex sessions will also promote inclusivity, allow the council to meet its equality obligations under the Equality Act and alleviate staffing issues during single-sex sessions."

How is anyone excluded by optional nudity or were they anticipating some people would still go into the opposite sex sessions?

@HorribleNecktie
m.facebook.com/katespadeny/photos/a.103288883985/10163028386813986/?type=3&mibextid=qC1gEa

I'm too chicken to land myself in another culture war by commenting, but I do think its daft.

Sorry for the derail op

They had some male staff working during a female only session there on one of my visits. A female member of staff came in first.

Update:

thestrayferret.co.uk/harrogate-turkish-baths-nude-ban-police-probe-ongoing/

I think there was discussion before on how frustrating it was, now we have “equality” laws instead of sexism laws, that if the men misbehave in their naked sessions, the women also get their privileges revoked.

I saw this on the local police fb page and thought how little information they were giving, but immediately assumed it was a male in the female session.

Oh okay, thanks. Though, given they've managed okay for all these years, it feels like they were stretching for reasons to justify stopping the nude sessions. Shame for everyone who enjoyed them.

Goodness, I've looked at the pics, the place looks amazing!

Goodness, that's surprising! Wonder why the story's come out and where from - although with so little detail it hasn't really come out much.

From NorthernDrizzle's update it seems like maybe it was an incident that affected a staff member?

BTW, I love that the local paper is called The Stray Ferret. For those who don't know Harrogate, The Stray is a massive open grassy space right alongside the town centre.