Just let trans women swim in peace
London. The reason for the protest is down to the pond clarifying in 2019 that trans women were allowed to swim in it and use the changing rooms, as is their legal right under the Equality Act 2010.
The policy, simply, is law-abiding – and more importantly, sending a clear message of inclusion and doing the right thing. Except, protestors want to halt trans women swimming in the pond before its centenary in 2025.These types of protests are so frustrating because they’re such a waste of time.
Instead of focusing our efforts on issues that truly impact women, such as the stripping of reproductive rights, sexual violence and structural inequalities, we are pointlessly arguing about ponds and toilets.
One of the protestors at last week’s event even went so far as to say that women’s spaces were being ‘colonised’. There is a lot to unpack with usage of such words in this context – particularly coming from a white woman, living in England, whose country’s colonial history is laid with decimation and violence against people of colour and indigenous cultures.If anything, it shows quite clearly the sheer level of insensitivity and disrespect anti-trans campaigners will resort to.The reality is that trans people have been using gendered spaces in line with their gender identity for decades, without trouble.
