A Canadian swimming pool has defended allowing a man wearing a child’s bikini and tiara to use female changing facilities, telling a concerned mother that “everyone’s gender identity and expressions are valid.”
The incident, which occurred at Commonwealth Place in Saanich, British Columbia, has sparked international controversy after staff dismissed complaints about the “hairy” individual sharing shower facilities with young girls.
Local mother Angie Tyrrell reported that her 10-year-old daughter encountered the individual in the changing room’s shower area, describing him as muscular with a “hairy chest and back” and was wearing what Tyrrell characterised as a child’s bikini with “tiaras, sparkles, and frills” similar to a Disney princess costume.
When Tyrrell initially raised concerns with front desk staff about the approximately six-foot-tall individual, she says her complaint was dismissed.
The pool’s assistant manager acknowledged that staff should have handled the initial complaint better, saying they would follow up with the team
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In email correspondence with Tyrrell, pool assistant manager Bree Dobler wrote: “While the District of Saanich welcomes and celebrates diversity, and we encourage visitors to our Recreation Facilities to use the restroom or changeroom with which they identify and where they feel most safe.”
Dobler acknowledged that staff should have handled the initial complaint better, saying they would follow up with the team.
She suggested Tyrrell could use “universal or single stall washrooms or changerooms” if concerned about modesty.
Tyrrell strongly objected to the suggestion, responding: “I don’t think it’s right that a man’s wish to ‘feel most safe’ in women’s only spaces should be deemed a higher priority than the legitimate physical and emotional need for women and girls to actually be safe.”
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The mother expressed frustration at being told to use alternative facilities, asking: “Why should all of the women – who the women’s change facility is for – have to leave to accommodate a man?”
Dobler maintained the facility’s position, saying that there was “no evidence” that inclusive changing room policies increased safety incidents.
Harry Potter author JK Rowling criticised defenders of the incident on social media, sharing online: “Quite something to watch people who were keen to hitch their wagons to #MeToo a few years ago defend this kind of thing, isn’t it?”
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova also weighed in, saying: “As predicted!!! You can’t have it both ways, left wingers! You just can’t.”
In frustration, the mother asked: “Why should all of the women – who the women’s change facility is for – have to leave to accommodate a man?” (stock image)
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The 68-year-old former Grand Slam champion added: “Protection of women and girls, should always come first. End of [discussion].”
Under British Columbia law, businesses and public facilities are required to recognise and treat trans people as the gender they identify with.
The provincial government’s website has outlined that “trans people must be recognised and treated as the gender they live in and prefer to express.”
Facilities that do not accommodate trans-identified individuals might face discrimination claims under local regulations.