Council stages transgender-only swim night

A Melbourne city council has organised a trans-friendly swim night after hearing concerns from transgender residents.

Greens-led Darebin City Council, which made headlines in 2017 for scrapping Australia Day, is opening a swim centre for a trans-only swim night at the Reservoir Leisure Centre on Saturday. Anyone who identifies as transgender will be allowed in along with their children.

A council spokesman said it was in "similar ilk" to other events it has hosted in the past for religious and cultural groups. He added it was organised following discussions with the LGBTQI community but declined to comment any further. The event will be held outside the swim centre's normal operating hours.

A Facebook event page for the swim night says it's "Victoria's first ever Trans and Gender diverse swim night, providing indoor pools where trans and gender diverse people can exercise, socialise and feel safe".

"So, come along to be a part of something truly wonderful in a safe place amongst like-minded individuals," it reads.

"The initiative is in support of a recommendation of the Darebin Sexuality, Sex and gender diversity advisory committee."

Darebin City Councillor Steph Amir shared concerns the LGBTQI community had ahead of the event on Twitter and cited them as reasons why council needed to hold the event.

Among the concerns were that many transgender people don't go to swimming pools and gyms "out of fear".

Research fellow Gideon Rozner from right-wing think tank the Institute of Public Affairs told Yahoo7 "activist councils like Darebin should spend less time focusing on identity politics and more time on the core business of local government".

"Council amenities like swimming pools should be open to all ratepayers, regardless of gender, ethnicity or religion," he said.

But the event on Facebook has been praised as "fantastic".

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"I have been too scared to go swimming as my real female self," one user wrote.

"Terribly scared actually. My swim suit has been collecting dust for two summers now. Thank you so much for this opportunity. Can't wait."