Organisations refusing to give their single sex spaces policy - David Lloyd for example

[SingleSexSpacesInSchools]

I have been trying for a long time to get a written policy out of David Lloyds for about a year. they are still refusing to do so.

Anyone got any suggestions? And What other orgs are refusing to do it?

Is this the next trench we have to fight in? Getting the damned thing written down?

@SingleSexSpacesInSchools I've been trying to get an answer from a local gym, also a swimming pool. In my enquiry I referred to biological sex/Equality Act, and got immediate word salad replies - "needs of users", "respecting dignity, safety" blah blah. Avoiding the actual question. Wrote again, more bluntly, asking for confirmation that by "women" they mean biological women in accordance with the Equality Act. That was 10 days ago. A big fat silence.

I suppose we trigger them by asking like that but, screw them really

I am now just asking for the policy, any policy in writing

Walk into the men's and see what happens...

@SingleSexSpacesInSchools Thinking of waiting a month and asking again via a different email address, saying I'm trans and worried I won't be allowed in the women's changing rooms/showers after the EHRC guidance.

Presumably you are aware of this case? Help Emma sue David Lloyd

I do think that we are going to just have to be blunt in our questioning, so there is no wiggle room. Yes or no, does your definition of "woman" concur with that of the Equality Act 2010, that a woman is an adult biological female and only an adult biological female. I'm great with blunt, and I don't mind asking seven times.

And following it with "Because if I enter this women-only single-sex space/ use this women-only single-sex service, and I encounter a biological male, you will be receiving a letter before action from my solicitor. So you might want to think very carefully how you answer my question."

And I'll say it bluntly with a smile on my face. I don't need to be nasty or aggressive. It's nothing personal, just the law, and I am entitled to my rights under the law.

Or something to that effect.

SingleSexSpaces is a man, he'd have to walk into the women's to test them out...

‘Please confirm that you are complying with the Equality Act by ensuring that women’s changing rooms and lavatories are used by biological females only.’

Follow up: ‘Not having received the confirmation we requested, we must assume that you are breaking the law by allowing biological males to use female spaces’

Indeed :) Which I would absolutely do if it did not by definition mean I would be intruding on the women in there.

Not asking my daughter to go into the mens either....! :D

I was and I had totally forgotten thank you, any idea the latest?

EDIT just saw there is an update right at the bottom of the page

Oh what a great idea....

Sneaky, I'm appalled. 😜 Don't forget to go all emotional on them. 🥹

The manager did email me back about 6 hours ago saying (before I posted this)

“Afternoon SSSIS,

I have previously responded earlier in the year and our stance is still as follows.

At this time, our approach is to carefully balance the needs and concerns of all members at club level, in line with the Equality Act 2010, what we know from the recent Supreme Court ruling, and relevant guidance across the industry.
We always consider the specific facilities available at our club as well as our legal responsibilities when making decisions. When an individual presents as transgender, we take the time to understand their needs and discuss what’s most appropriate for them and for our wider membership.

We fully appreciate that this is an emotive and evolving area. Like many organisations, we await further guidance, and will welcome the clarity it provides once published.

I am aware that since then there has now been another new ruling, I have reached out for guidance on how that will affect us and any policies moving forward, I will update you once this is received.

If a team member has made your visit a great one, please be sure to let us know via the 'rate your visit' notification in the app.

Best wishes,

David Knight
General Manager
David Lloyd Brighton”

So I emailed him back saying I was going to be there tomorrow with my daughter and maybe he would be kind enough to explain the policy 1:2 to my daughter.

In fact it was a banger so here it is in full.

Dear David,

Thank you for your reply.

My daughter and I are planning to visit the club tomorrow to look at the new gym equipment.

While we are there, I would like to meet with you briefly so that you can explain David Lloyd Brighton’s current changing room policy to us directly, including how the female changing room is currently being operated and who is permitted to use it.

I am aware that the new EHRC Code of Practice has now been laid before Parliament. However, that is guidance on how to comply with the Equality Act 2010. It is not the underlying law that has recently changed. The law itself remains the Equality Act 2010, as clarified by the Supreme Court in For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers: sex means biological sex for the purposes of that Act.

That means David Lloyd must already have legally compliant processes in place, and must be able to enforce those processes competently. It cannot simply operate changing rooms on an unclear, unpublished, case-by-case basis while members and children are expected to undress.

The stated EHRC position is that if a space is described or operated as single-sex, such as a female changing room, then it must be single-sex on the basis of biological sex. If male people are admitted on the basis of gender identity, then the space is not in fact single-sex, and female members and girls need to be told that clearly before they are expected to use it.

As my daughter is a female member who may be expected to use those facilities, I think it is reasonable that she hears the policy clearly and directly. She is entitled to know whether the female changing room is actually single-sex, and whether male people are permitted to enter it.

Please also note that my belief that women and girls are entitled to male-free changing spaces is a protected belief under the Equality Act 2010. Any detrimental treatment, including any attempt to restrict or cancel my membership because I have raised this lawful concern, would be treated as potential discrimination and/or victimisation, and I would reserve all legal remedies.

Please also be aware that if David Lloyd does not have a clear policy in place ensuring that female changing rooms are single-sex in practice, I will consider making a formal complaint and taking further legal advice. My daughter would also have her own potential rights and remedies if she is placed in a position where her privacy, dignity or safety is compromised in a changing room.

Please can you let me know what time you are available tomorrow.

Kind regards,

SSSIS

God damn it @SingleSexSpacesInSchools, I love it when you talk filth in the evening
🤣

That is a stonking email!

Do we have a template thread? Because this should be in it if so.

No one will be surprised to learn David was not waiting for us at the gym today. Though it was 0730

Please feel free to use it anyone!

I cant see how any trans woman would be beaten up in a David Lloyd gym changing room tbh. There are often cleaners in the one i use, other members, reception is always manned. It just isnt going to happen.

There are definitely males in the female changing room at my branch of DL. Well I use my eyes and I would say it’s a man. Then all the 11yo boys in there because mummy thinks they can’t use the mens changing rooms on their own. 😡

The lack of an answer IS the answer in cases like this, isn't it?

I’m not saying you have to if you don’t feel comfortable, but would you consider a version of my letter to your local DL?

I got the complaints email address! [email protected]

And I sent head office a big complaint:

Dear xxxx,
Thank you for confirming that this is the correct email address for escalated complaints.
Please treat this email as a formal escalated complaint.

My complaint concerns the manager of David Lloyd Brighton’s refusal to provide a clear written policy regarding single-sex spaces, specifically male and female changing rooms and toilet facilities, when requested multiple times.
This is not a new issue. I submitted a formal complaint to the General Manager on 3 June 2025. I then raised the matter again on 21 May 2026, and have asked repeatedly for the current written policy setting out who is permitted to use the male and female changing rooms and toilets.
I have still not been provided with the policy.

Instead, xxxx, General Manager of David Lloyd Brighton, has replied with a general statement about balancing the needs of members, considering matters at club level, and taking time to understand the needs of individuals who present as transgender.

That does not answer the question. It does not tell members whether the female changing room and female toilets are genuinely single-sex. It does not tell parents whether their daughters may be expected to undress or use toilet facilities in spaces into which male people may be admitted. It does not provide any written policy, process, staff guidance, operational instruction, or risk assessment.

I also asked for the matter to be escalated to Head Office. Mr xxx has refused or failed to do so, despite my requests being in writing. I have now had to contact Head Office myself to establish the correct complaints route.

I also asked Mr xxx to meet me and my daughter when we visit the club, so that he could explain the policy directly to us. He has refused or failed to agree to meet us. This is particularly concerning because my daughter is a female member who may be expected to use those facilities, and she is entitled to understand whether the female changing rooms and toilets are actually single-sex.

I am aware that the updated EHRC Code of Practice has now been laid before Parliament. However, that is guidance on how to comply with the Equality Act 2010. It is not the underlying law that has recently changed. The law remains the Equality Act 2010, as clarified by the Supreme Court in For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers: sex means biological sex for the purposes of that Act.

David Lloyd is operating changing rooms and toilets today. It must therefore already have legally compliant policies, processes and staff instructions in place. It cannot lawfully operate sensitive facilities such as changing rooms and toilets on an unclear, unpublished, case-by-case basis while members and children are expected to undress or use intimate facilities.

I am now asking Head Office to provide the following:

1. The current, written David Lloyd policy, national and local, governing access to male and female changing rooms and toilet facilities.
2. Written confirmation of whether David Lloyd Brighton’s male and female changing rooms and toilets are operated as single-sex spaces on the basis of biological sex.
3. Written confirmation of whether male people who identify as women are permitted to use the female changing rooms or female toilets at David Lloyd Brighton.
4. Written confirmation of whether female members and girls are informed in advance if the female changing rooms or toilets are not operated as genuinely single-sex spaces.
5. An explanation of why Mr xxxx did not provide the policy when asked, did not escalate my complaint to Head Office when asked, and did not agree to meet me and my daughter to explain the position directly.

My belief that women and girls are entitled to male-free changing and toilet facilities is a protected belief under the Equality Act 2010. Any detrimental treatment, including any attempt to restrict, penalise or cancel my membership because I have raised these lawful concerns, would be treated as potential discrimination and/or victimisation. I reserve all rights and legal remedies in that regard.

This is a formal complaint about both the underlying policy issue and the handling of my reasonable enquiries by David Lloyd Brighton.

Please acknowledge this complaint and confirm:

1. Who is now responsible for investigating it.
2. Whether it is being treated as a Stage 4 escalation under your escalation process.
3. The date by which I will receive a substantive written response.
4. Whether David Lloyd will preserve all records relating to this issue, including emails, internal messages, staff guidance, complaints notes, membership notes, risk assessments and equality assessments.

I would like a full written response from Head Office, not another general statement from David Lloyd Brighton.
Yours sincerely,

I’m stealing that email.