Berlin to Allow Women to Go Topless at Public Swimming Pools
The city of Berlin has just announced a new policy that will allow women to go topless at public swimming pools in the city, just like men. This follows a discrimination complaint from a woman who was not allowed to go topless in a swimming pool in the capital.
The woman, whose identity was not revealed, had turned to the senate’s ombudsperson’s office for equal treatment to demand that women, like men, can swim topless. In response to her complaint, the Berliner Baederbetriebe, which runs the city’s public pools, has decided to change its clothing rules to allow everyone to go swimming without covering their torsos.
Doris Liebscher, the head of the ombudsperson’s office, welcomed the decision of the Baederbetriebe, saying it establishes equal rights for all Berliners, whether male, female or non-binary. She also stated that it creates legal certainty for the staff at the Baederbetriebe.
In the past, women who bared their breasts at Berlin pools were asked to cover themselves or to leave the pool, and were sometimes even banned from returning. Liebscher emphasized the importance of applying the new regulation consistently, and making sure that no more expulsions or house bans are issued.
The exact date when the new bathing rules will be implemented is still yet to be determined. However, this new policy will mark an important step forward in creating a more equitable environment for all Berliners.
