Sydney’s lone women’s only pool, the McIver’s Ladies Bath in Coogee, was in hot water over a change in its policy on transwomen. Found on its FAQ page was a statement saying, “Only transgender women who’ve undergone a gender-reassignment surgery are allowed entry.”
But the policy, which was discovered on 11 Jan 2021, has been altered the following day after drawing outrage on social media. The statement now reads, “Our definition for transgender is as per the NSW Discrimination Act.”
I wonder who's job it is at McIver's Ladies Baths in Coogee, to check people's pants to see if they have the "correct" genitals?https://t.co/e3785XaBeN pic.twitter.com/AbIQQ1lXKM
— DrewAnB (@JadedTransWoman) January 11, 2021
Its Facebook page was also disabled after receiving hundreds of comments when the management posted a statement directing people to request information and comments about the transgender community to the Randwick City Council.
Since 1922, the exclusive pool has been a safe space for “healing, acceptance and security” for women and children, including boys below 12 years old, to bathe and relax. Historically, McIver’s Bath is also a place for women whose religious beliefs bar them from bathing in other public pools because of the presence of men.
The site is managed by both the Randwick City Council and the Coogee Ladies Swimming Association.
“Randwick Council is an inclusive organisation that values diversity in our community, and have always supported the inclusion of transgender women at McIver’s Ladies Baths,” a Council spokesperson said.
“McIver’s Ladies Baths is located on Crown land and sub-leased to the Randwick and Coogee Ladies Swimming Association who are ultimately responsible for management and entry to the baths.
“It is our understanding the Association has always had a policy of inclusion and we have been in contact with the management of the baths to ask them to more accurately communicate this inclusive position on the issue on their website.”
This was not the first time McIver’s Bath had to deal with an issue on transwomen. In 2010, the Council received complaints when a bare-chested person in board shorts swam at the pool. His masculine appearance caused a commotion but his two female friends assured the other swimmers that he’s undergoing hormone therapy.
“The issue of allowing transsexual people, or people going through the process of a sex change, to use the McIver’s Ladies Baths at Coogee is extremely sensitive,” a Council representative said at that time. “Someone may still exhibit male characteristics, despite having had a sex change.”
