Martina Navratilova has voiced her support for renowned author J.K. Rowling, who highlighted the plight of a Canadian mother whose daughter experienced misconduct by a trans-identified male.
Angie Tyrrell recently revealed that a man wearing a pink, sparkly bikini was found showering in the women's changing room at her local public pool. After reporting the man’s presence, she was told that the facility “welcomes and celebrates diversity."
Speaking to Reduxx on November 19, Tyrrell revealed that the incident occurred on July 5 at Commonwealth Place, a local recreational center. She had brought her 10-year-old daughter and her friend to swim there.
Following this, Tyrrell waited for the girls in the bathroom area of the women’s changing room. Moments later, the girls ran out of the shower area in panic, telling Tyrrell that a man had been in the shower with them. Tyrrell then instructed the girls to change in the nearby toilet stalls.
The Canadian woman further shared that the man, who appeared muscular with a hairy chest, later entered the bathroom area. This caused several women and children to feel uncomfortable.
After the incident, Tyrrell approached the reception desk to alert the staff that a male was in the female changing room but they were dismissive. The women then approached Bree Dobler, the assistant manager of the facility, who initially perceived the issue as simply about the man’s bikini.
"While the District of Saanich welcomes and celebrates diversity, and we encourage visitors to our Recreation Facilities to use the restroom or changeroom with which they identify and where they feel most safe. All patrons are expected to respect the privacy and identity of others and wear appropriate attire for swimming as outlined in our Code of Conduct," Dobler wrote in a mail to Tyrrell.
In response, Tyrrell argued that a man’s desire to feel safe in women’s spaces should not prioritize the legitimate need for women and girls to feel safe. She questioned why women should have to leave to accommodate a man.
“I don’t think it’s right that a man’s wish to ‘feel most safe’ in women’s only spaces should be deemed a higher priority than the legitimate physical and emotional need for women and girls to actually be safe… You say if we are concerned that we should use the universal change room. But why should all of the women—who the women’s change facility is for—have to leave to accommodate a man?” she said in response.
Dobler responded by emphasizing that all gender identities and expressions are valid, and everyone is welcome in the changerooms where they feel safest, as protected by BC's (British Columbia) Human Rights Code.
"…everyone’s gender identity and expressions are valid. Everyone is welcome in our centres in the changeroom where they feel most safe. Gender expression and identity is protected under BC’s Human Rights Code and we are proud to have a Diversity in Changerooms Policy in our centres,” she wrote.
Subsequently, Tyrrell questioned the logic behind considering a 6-foot-tall, muscular man with a hairy chest and back a woman simply because they was wearing a bikini. Since the contentious incident, the woman has refused to use the public facilities in Saanich.
Renowned author J.K Rowling later highlighted Reduxx's report and Tyrrell's concern on X. The author lamented the incident and highlighted the contradiction between past support for MeToo (a movement against sexual violence), and the defense of what happened with Tyrrell.
"Quite something to watch people who were keen to hitch their wagons to #MeToo a few years ago defend this kind of thing, isn't it? Then: 'male sexual predation is far more widespread than society admits!' Now: 'of course strange men should be able to shower with little girls," she wrote.
18-time Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova backed Rowling's statements and criticized left-wing defenders of the incident. She argued that the protection of women and girls should always take precedence.
"As predicted!!! You can’t have it both ways, left wingers! You just can’t. Protection of women and girls, should always come first. End of," she wrote.
When Martina Navratilova expressed support for J.K Rowling's initiative for women
Nearly two years ago, J.K. Rowling launched Beira's Place, a women-only support service in Edinburgh for victims of sexual violence. The service offering free advocacy and assistance to women who have experienced abuse was made free of cost.
While Rowling's initiative faced criticism from many, former barrister and social commentator James Esses took to social media to condemn those attacking Rowling for her efforts.
Martina Navratilova later shared Esses's remarks, stating that the disrespect shown toward women seeking a safe space is profoundly concerning.
"Exactly… it really sucks. The disrespect, to say the least to women who just want and need a safe space, is truly awful," Navratilova wrote.
Navratilova has consistently supported Rowling's views, most recently backing the author’s strong response to transgender broadcaster India Willoughby, who endorsed the concept of IVF.