Hampstead Heath's Kenwood Ladies' Pond has faced backlash for failing to ban transgender women, despite a Supreme Court ruling that they are not legally recognised as female. The pond, which opened 100 years ago specifically for women and girls, has been at the centre of a heated debate over trans rights since the City of London Corporation implemented a self-ID policy in 2019.
Gender-critical feminists have fought to 'reclaim' the pond—the UK's only women-only natural bathing pool—but their efforts have met resistance from trans rights activists. On Wednesday, the City of London Corporation confirmed its self-ID policy would 'remain in effect at this time' while reviewing the Supreme Court judgment's implications.
Prominent barrister Sarah Vine KC slammed the decision, warning the corporation faces legal danger. 'Any continued description of two of the ponds as 'men's' and 'ladies' will expose the Corporation to discrimination claims,' she told The Telegraph. She stressed: 'This is despite the fact that women's overall need for safety and privacy is generally higher than that of men.'
Venice Allan, a feminist activist banned from the Kenwood Ladies' Pond Association after protesting biological males' access, expressed no surprise at the authority's stance. 'It doesn't surprise me in the slightest that the Corporation is trying to fudge this,' she said. Allan explained women 'need women's spaces for our safety, privacy and dignity, and also—in this case—for our joy.'
Fiona McAnena from Sex Matters called the policy 'invasive, discriminatory and unlawful' and demanded immediate action: 'The City of London and those managing women's swimming facilities need to admit defeat and immediately restore boundaries that respect the safety, dignity and privacy of women.'
The City of London Corporation rejected these accusations, stating: 'These accusations are completely false. The City Corporation is compliant with existing UK law.' They added that they are 'carefully considering the judgment and awaiting statutory guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission' and are 'committed to providing a safe... environment for all.'
