Keep Hampstead Heath’s Ladies’ Pond Inclusive
Fund Trans Rights and Defend Our Community!
The serene waters of Hampstead Heath’s Ladies’ Pond have long been a cherished sanctuary in London, celebrated for its unique tranquillity and, crucially, its commitment to inclusivity. For decades, it has served as a safe haven for women in all their diversity, providing a space for peace, community, and connection.
However, this vital, welcoming environment is now under direct legal threat from the trans hostile group Sex Matters, and TransLucent is stepping up! We intend to defend it and the transgender rights that underpin its inclusive spirit.
The Challenge: Sex Matters’ Legal Action:
Sex Matters is crowdfunding legal action against the City of London Corporation, which manages Hampstead Heath, specifically over its policy of allowing trans women into the Ladies’ Pond. Their campaign, provocatively titled “Crowdfund to keep men out of the Ladies’ Pond”, seeks to compel the Corporation to reverse its long-standing stance.
If successful, this could set a dangerous precedent for the rights of transgender individuals in the UK. Sex Matters bases its challenge on a Supreme Court judgment from April 2025 (in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers), which, they argue, clarified that the definition of “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex.
This ruling has significant implications for the LGBTQLGBTQ LGBTQIA+ is an inclusive term that includes people of all genders and sexualities, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, intersex, asexual, pansexual, and allies. While each letter in LGBTQIA+ stands for a specific group of people, the term encompasses the entire spectrum of gender fluidity and sexual identities. https://abbreviations.yourdictionary.com/what-does-lgbtqia-stand-for-full-acronym-explained.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT+ community and the rights of transgender individuals. They contend that this ruling means “transgender women” (who they define as biological males) can be excluded from “single-sex spaces” like the Ladies’ Pond.
The City of London’s Stance and Why This Matters:
The City of London Corporation has allowed transgender women access to the Ladies’ Pond since 2019. Following Sex Matters’ “letter before action,” the Corporation responded, stating it is reviewing its access policies but explicitly denying that the Ladies’ Pond is a “single-sex service” as defined by the specific exceptions within Schedule 3 of the Equality Act 2010.
Importantly, the Corporation has confirmed that, during their review, the current arrangements remain in place, and they will display signs stating that transgender women are welcome to use the women’s ponds, changing rooms, and showers. Their priority is to provide “a safe and respectful environment for everyone”.
This commitment is echoed by the Kenwood Ladies’ Pond Association (KLPA), a volunteer group representing pond users. The KLPA has consistently affirmed that the Ladies’ Pond should remain open to all women, including trans women, as reported in The Independent just a few days ago saying:
“While the ladies’ pond is many things for many people, for me, its magic has always been rooted in inclusivity. It’s a safe space open to all who identify as female – and since 2019, that invitation has been explicitly extended to trans women by the City of London Corporation, which runs the facility.”
KLPA said that trans women have been swimming there for many years “without incident”, and in 2024, they rejected a motion to limit access to those “born female in sex”.
For many regular swimmers, the inclusion of trans women is integral to the pond’s magic. Swimmers describe it as a place of healing and community, where women of all ages, body shapes, races, and nationalities gather happily and freely. The concerns raised by Sex Matters are often seen as “theoretical” and “wildly disproportionate,” given the small number of trans women in the UK (0.1% of the population) and the overwhelming positive experience of an inclusive space.
TransLucent’s Stand: Our Campaign to Fund Trans Rights:
At TransLucent, we believe this legal challenge is not just an attack on a beloved public space; it’s an attempt to undermine the human rights and dignity of trans people across the UK.
Our core message is clear:
Trans people are people. We deserve dignity, safety, and equality. Our lives are not a debate.
The Supreme Court ruling was narrow and, as legal experts confirm, does not mandate the exclusion of trans women from single-sex spaces, particularly where the service provider (like the City of London Corporation) chooses to be inclusive. Exclusion is only legally justified in “limited and proportionate circumstances” where there is a legitimate aim like safety or privacy, which is hard to argue when lifeguards and stewards are present and there’s no history of issues. Sex Matters’ stance, therefore, is divisive, discriminatory, and harmful.
TransLucent has launched our urgent crowdfund: “Keep the Ladies Pond Inclusive: Fund Trans Rights”.
Sex Matters aims to raise £50,000 for their legal action. We must match their efforts to ensure we can robustly defend trans inclusion at Hampstead Heath and beyond.
What Your Donation Will Achieve:
Every contribution to our fundraiser is a direct investment in justice and equality:
- Legal Defence: Funds will support our legal team in monitoring Sex Matters’ judicial review proceedings, advising on potential interventions (such as submitting an “amicus curiae” brief or seeking to formally intervene in the case), and building a strong legal counter-case. Sex Matters plans to lodge their claim in August 2025, making immediate fundraising crucial.
- Public Awareness: We will launch impactful public awareness campaigns, leveraging our IT, Communications, and Web-social network strengths. This includes creating fact-based content to counter misinformation, sharing powerful personal stories of trans women and allies, and mobilising support through petitions and digital outreach.
- Sustained Advocacy: Your support enables TransLucent to continue our vital work, including speaking with MPs and the government, building coalitions with other LGBTQ+ and human rights organisations, and advocating for stronger protections for transgender people in the UK.
Join the Fight for Inclusivity!
This is a critical moment for transgender rights in the UK. By standing with TransLucent, you are helping to ensure that spaces like Hampstead Heath’s Ladies’ Pond remain bastions of welcome for all women.
Please chip in today to our “Keep the Ladies Pond Inclusive: Fund Trans Rights” campaign and help us match Sex Matters’ £50,000 target.
Every donation, no matter how small, strengthens our fight for a more just and inclusive society.
Donate now and share this message widely!
