This article was taken from The South Manchester Reporter (3 April 2008):
PARENTS are refusing to let their children swim in Levenshulme baths – because it’s being hired for naked male swimming sessions.
Over the past nine months the pool has been hired out on a Thursday evening for private naturist group called Naked Swim.
The group hires one of the two pools and is given use of the saunas, while regular public adults-only swimming takes place in the second pool.
But now local mums have learned about the sessions, some want them stopped.
They say their problem is not that the sessions are for gay men – but that it is inappropriate that people are bathing in the nude in a public pool.
Manchester council has moved to reassure people that the sessions pose no hygiene or privacy risk but some mums are so concerned that they have pulled their children out of swimming lessons at the baths in protest.
Elaine Howarth said she had complained to staff at the swimming pool, but was told they could not see what the fuss was about.
She said: "I’m all for people having their own get-togethers, but why do they have to be naked? It just doesn’t seem right," she said.
All the local schools use the baths for their swimming lessons but most of the mothers I’ve been speaking to are now not going to allow their children to go anymore. It’s horrible to think about." Another mum, Lynne Mills, said she had pulled her son out of his lessons.
She is now considering using another pool.
She said: "I thought this was a joke when I first heard about it. This is a community pool used by OAPs and children. I am concerned about the hygiene aspect – they don’t let children in pools without wearing clothes, so why should it be different for adults?"
"We have told my son that we think he’s too good for those lessons now. Someone from Levenshulme baths phoned me this week to ask if he would be coming back and I told them no and the reason why not. All the mums I know are doing the same. I’m gutted about it because I’d like to support the local pool, but it just doesn’t seem right."
A spokeswoman for Manchester City council said: "This private session has been running since June 2007 with absolutely no problems and the public can be reassured there are no issues surrounding hygiene or privacy.
"This is no less sanitary than bathing with a swimsuit and our pools are well maintained, filtered and chlorinated to maintain high standards of cleanliness for all swimming sessions.
"The group meets in a completely private session in pool two, which is closed to other members of the public, and does not affect other visitors in any way.
"Manchester City Council is totally committed to equality and does not accept discrimination of any kind. The pool is available to hire by any groups regardless of their faith, race, gender or sexuality."
The baths have received two direct complaints about the group – for gay people – one written and one verbal.
Jeni Quirke, of the Lesbian and Gay Foundation, said: , told the MEN: "Naked Swim is a naturist group and whether it is for gay men or not is irrelevant."
"It should not be considered any different from a heterosexual naturist group. It’s all above board, it’s not seedy, it’s just a social networking group."
The organisers of Naked Swim were so far unavailable for comment.
A MEETING is being held by the Friends of Levenshulme, to discuss the stage in their campaign to push for regeneration in the district.
Residents are asked to go along to plan how to organise a hustings event before the local elections on May 1.
SOURCE: The South Manchester Reporter
