You can’t ban trans people from the pool – just ask Out To Swim
The accessible aqua sports club invites swimmers of all gender identities, ages and abilities to find community in the water: here’s how they’re pushing inclusion forward.
WORDS JAMIE WINDUST HEADER IMAGES SUPPLIED BY OUT TO SWIM, DESIGN BY YOSEF PHELAN This is State of Play, a new column by GAY TIMES Contributing Editor Jamie Windust.
Every month, Jamie will be jumping, running and diving head-first into the world of sport, movement and fitness. Exploring queer sporting excellence at every level, they’ll also be reporting on the changes that need to be made in order to make the world of sport fully accessible to all within the community. Despite swimming’s mental and physical benefits, the pool can be a triggering space for trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming folk.
Interview-based research from sources such as the charity Mermaids and the University of Bournemouth has shown that young trans people have negative associations with swimming – seeing the pool as a space of exclusion and intimidation.
