Cllr Caroline Russell: ‘It looks like a hasty exclusionary over-reach by GLL’
A DECISION by a gym and swimming pool to bar transgender individuals from single-sex toilets and changing rooms has been met with dismay from councillors and customers who say it breaches Islington’s equality policy.
In an email seen by the Tribune, Ironmonger Baths in Old Street said their new policies have been put in place to reflect the Supreme Court ruling that defined a “woman” based on biological sex.
A member of staff wrote: “We want to clarify that this ruling is now in effect and being implemented within our centre. This means that access to certain single-sex spaces, such as toilets and changing rooms, is now based on biological sex as required by law.”
But members of the trans community have warned that the decision is rushed and will lead to further ostracisation of an already vulnerable group.
One trans woman who has been using the centre for a decade but wished to remain anonymous, said the email was “gut-wrenching” and an “over-zealous interpretation of the ruling”. She added: “It hasn’t been digested properly. There’s so much more nuance and there’s still so much more that is open to interpretation.”
The long-time customer, who transitioned several years ago, said she had never had any problems when using the female facilities at the gym and baths, but now she plans to cancel her membership.
She told the Tribune: “It’s a time where I feel incredibly lonely and isolated by society, and the one thing that I need from those who say they care is to start caring and reaching out and making sure that spaces are inclusive and everyone is welcome.
“I don’t know if I will feel comfortable going back, even if there is a U-turn. I just don’t think I will feel comfortable.”
Caroline Russell, Green councillor for Highbury ward, said the decision seemed “entirely out of line with council equalities policies”, adding: “It looks like a hasty exclusionary over-reach by GLL before the Equality and Human Rights Commission [EHRC] consultation has even concluded, let alone issued guidance.”
Cllr Russell called on the council to pressure GLL into changing their policy. She said: “Policing access to services based on biological sex should have no place in our borough. The council needs to stand up unequivocally for trans, non-binary and intersex residents by demanding GLL urgently remove biological sex as a condition for use of toilets and changing cubicles.
“Trans and gender-diverse people must be able to continue using the council services they have used without question, in many cases, for decades.”
GLL is an independent organisation contracted by the council to run leisure centres.
Councillor Sheila Chapman, Islington’s equalities chief, said the council was “deeply disappointed” that the GLL had decided to restrict access to toilets and changing rooms without consulting them.
She told the Tribune: “This is not acceptable to us, and we have asked them to wait until the EHRC process is completed before implementing any new approach.”
Cllr Chapman said the council would wait until the EHRC consultation was complete before changing any of its own policies.
She added: “This is an incredibly difficult time for our transgender residents and, now more than ever, it’s vital that we display empathy and understanding, recognising that our borough’s diversity is one of our major strengths.”
There are concerns over how Ironmonger Baths plan to enforce the new policy. “It’s literally impossible,” said the customer. “There is a huge worry that my cis female friends are also going to suffer. The ones who are slightly taller, or slightly broader, or have deeper voices.”
A spokesperson for GLL said: “All customers are welcome in our centres. Pending further clarification and formal guidance from government and our industry body ukactive, we are following the Supreme Court ruling asking customers to use the changing facilities that correspond to their biological sex.
“As a responsible operator, it is important that we act in accordance with the EHRC guidance while also ensuring the dignity and wellbeing of all our customers. We are committed to maintaining an inclusive environment and hope people will continue to use our services.”
