EXCLUSIVE Women's rights campaigners storm male pond at Hampstead Heath in false beards, wigs and moustaches in protest over self-ID rule at ladies-only pool

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Women’s rights campaigners stormed the male pond at Hampstead Heath shouting ‘no goolies in our poolies’ in protest over bosses refusing to ban trans women from an adjacent ladies’ only pond following the Supreme Court ruling.

Around 30 female protesters wearing false beards, wigs and moustaches descended on the male-only pond on Bank Holiday Monday demanding to be let in because they self-identified as male.

But they were met by security guards and police who locked a gate to prevent them from entering while insisting that protests were not allowed.

The protest was organised after officials from the City of London Corporation which runs the ponds in Hampstead Heath north London ruled that trans women or men who identify as women could continue swimming in a nearby ladies’ pond.

Protesters demanded that the Corporation now ban trans women or men identifying as women from using the ladies’ only pond following the Supreme Court ruling that the legal definition of a woman should be based on biological sex.

Waving placards declaring ‘Let Women Swim’ and ‘No Peens in our Pond,’ the women protesters marched on the male natural bathing pond loudly singing: ‘The law says no. Men must go. No goolies in our poolies.’

On a day they dubbed ‘Bank Holiday Man-Day’, dog walkers and visitors to the Heath looked on bemused as the women then gathered on the edge of the pond singing: ‘If the person has a penis, he’s a man.’

After being denied entry, the women remonstrated with a police officer standing behind a locked iron gate demanding that they be permitted entry because ‘we are men.’

Women's rights campaigners stormed the male pond at Hampstead Heath in protest over bosses refusing to ban trans women from an adjacent ladies' only pond

Women’s rights campaigners stormed the male pond at Hampstead Heath in protest over bosses refusing to ban trans women from an adjacent ladies’ only pond

After being denied entry, the women remonstrated with a police officer standing behind a locked iron gate and other security officers

After being denied entry, the women remonstrated with a police officer standing behind a locked iron gate and other security officers

A bemused male swimmer watches on as one of the protesters breaks into the male-only pond

A bemused male swimmer watches on as one of the protesters breaks into the male-only pond

Amy Desir, a gender-critical campaigner who organised the protest, insisted: ‘If you allow trans women or men who identify as women into the ladies only pond then why can’t us women, who identify as men, just for today, be allowed into the male only pond?’

Another protester screamed: ‘I’m very manly. I have short hair and flat shoes. Let me in.’

A third shouted: ‘Let us lads in.’

The police officer smirked and then admitted that he was a bit confused, particularly over which pronoun to use asking them: ‘How should I refer to you all?’

The women replied: ‘Sir or gentlemen or he or him. Or even your lordships,’ leading to widespread laughter amongst those involved in the standoff.

As protesters remonstrated and joked with the officer about their ‘manliness’, five of them broke away, jumped over a wooden fence and dived into the chilly water of the male-only pond as their supporters cheered and clapped.

Ms Desir, who was wearing a bright, oversized novelty swimsuit was one of the first to breach the pond’s defences.

She told MailOnline: ‘We are not transphobic, we are pro-women and want to maintain safe spaces for women. The City of London Corporation is in breach of the law because only biological women should be allowed to use the women’s only pond.

Protesters argued and joked with police, insisting they were identifying as men and should be allowed in

Protesters argued and joked with police, insisting they were identifying as men and should be allowed in

Amy Desir is pictured jumping into the male pond on a day they dubbed Bank Holiday Man-Day

Amy Desir is pictured jumping into the male pond on a day they dubbed Bank Holiday Man-Day

After swimming for around 20 minutes, the female protesters jumped in the air and waved to their supporters

After swimming for around 20 minutes, the female protesters jumped in the air and waved to their supporters 

Protesters managed to get into the male pond and jumped in one by one on Monday

Protesters managed to get into the male pond and jumped in one by one on Monday

Many of the protesters who were self-identifying as men for the day were wearing fake beards

Many of the protesters who were self-identifying as men for the day were wearing fake beards

Women wearing fake moustaches and beards mess around in the male-pond on Monday

Women wearing fake moustaches and beards mess around in the male-pond on Monday

The protesters, including Amy Desir (left) and Venice Allen (centre), are seen posing on the jetty

The protesters, including Amy Desir (left) and Venice Allen (centre), are seen posing on the jetty

‘The Corporations self-identity policy is driving women away from the women’s pond. They don’t feel safe there anymore because of transwomen or predatory men being let in because they say they’re a woman.’

She added: ‘The whole situation is ridiculous. People who in the eyes of the law are not women are being allowed to use the women’s pond and that is disgraceful.’

Hannah Clarke, who also jumped into the male pond, said: ‘The Supreme Court has made the definition of a woman categorically clear and that’s somebody who is born a woman. The City of London Corporation should be complying with the law, it’s as simple as that.’

After swimming for around 20 minutes, the female protesters jumped in the air and waved to their supporters while standing on a wooden platform that jutted out over the men’s pond.

Venice Allen, who shivered after leaving the pond and was drying herself with a towel thar read, ‘Let Women Swim,’ told MailOnline: ‘The water was very cold, but it was worth it. This is a very important protest to fight for women’s rights.

There were around 30 protesters who turned up at the male pond on Bank Holiday Monday

There were around 30 protesters who turned up at the male pond on Bank Holiday Monday

Protesters held placards up including this one which said 'No peens in our pond'

Protesters held placards up including this one which said ‘No peens in our pond’

The protesters from 'Let Women Swim' did the stunt to protest against bosses refusing to ban trans women from the ladies' pond

The protesters from ‘Let Women Swim’ did the stunt to protest against bosses refusing to ban trans women from the ladies’ pond

Protesters argue with security and police after being denied access to the male-only pond

Protesters argue with security and police after being denied access to the male-only pond

Hannah Clarke and Amy Desir were among those leading the protest on Monday

Hannah Clarke and Amy Desir were among those leading the protest on Monday

A female protester walks alongside a man at the male-only pond at Hampstead Heath

A female protester walks alongside a man at the male-only pond at Hampstead Heath

Amy Desir
Hannah Clarke

Ms Desir, who was wearing a bright, oversized novelty swimsuit was one of the first to breach the pond’s defences. She was joined by Ms Clarke

Venice Allen (pictured), who shivered after leaving the pond and was drying herself with a towel thar read, 'Let Women Swim,' told MailOnline: 'The water was very cold, but it was worth it. This is a very important protest to fight for women's rights.'

Venice Allen (pictured), who shivered after leaving the pond and was drying herself with a towel thar read, ‘Let Women Swim,’ told MailOnline: ‘The water was very cold, but it was worth it. This is a very important protest to fight for women’s rights.’

Women's rights protesters were seen taking over the male-only pond on Monday afternoon

Women’s rights protesters were seen taking over the male-only pond on Monday afternoon

‘We will be returning until the women’s pond is once again exclusively for women.’

The UK’s sole women-only natural bathing pool became a flashpoint in the trans debate after the City of London Corporation adopted a ‘self-ID’ policy in 2019, meaning trans women or men identifying as women can use the female changing rooms and swim there.

It has chosen to stick with this policy despite the Equality and Human Rights Commission advising that trans women should not use women’s facilities in workplaces or public spaces following the Supreme Court ruling.

The City of London Corporation has said that it is ‘carefully considering the judgment’ while awaiting statutory guidance from the Commission.

A spokesman for the City of London Corporation told the media: ‘These accusations are completely false. The City Corporation is compliant with existing UK law.’




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