Things are changing in Berlin and not everybody is happy about it. The German capital is home to both men and women and now they have the same rights, at least when it comes to visiting the local pool.
After a discrimination complaint was filed in 2023, a new rule has been put in place regarding swimming in public pools in the German capital. That complaint was demanding that women have the same rights as men when it comes to swimming topless in those swimming pools.
The person who filed the complaint wants to stay anonymous and they went to the senate’s ombudsperson’s office for equal treatment to get the most for filing it. Eventually, the Berliner Baederbetriebe would revise its rules.
The head of the ombudsperson’s office, Doris Liebscher was very happy about the decision. She said: “It establishes equal rights for all Berliners, whether male, female or non-binary, and because it also creates legal certainty for the staff.”
Prior to the change, the people working at the public swimming pools in Berlin would ask women to cover themselves up or leave. Women who would not cover up were given a permanent ban.
Ms Liebscher added: “Now it is important that the regulation is applied consistently and that no more expulsions or house bans are issued.”
The policy went into place in March 2023 and it still exists.