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Brighton Spa Apologizes for Excluding Trans Women, Launches Queer Sauna Session

Pressure from trans rights groups fueled by a recent Supreme Court ruling on transgender legal status spurred the spa’s policy overhaul

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Overview

  • Beach Box Spa said its decision to bar trans women from a women-only sauna was wrong and hurt its LGBTQ+ community
  • The Brighton venue has scheduled a dedicated 'queer sauna session' starting Thursday and committed to LGBTQ+ inclusion training
  • Trans activist India Willoughby condemned the initial policy as ‘blatant discrimination’ and some customers warned the apology could compromise women’s privacy
  • A recent Supreme Court ruling classifies trans women as legally male under the Equality Act, prompting businesses to reassess single-sex event rules
  • Tensions over gendered spaces have also surfaced at Download Festival, where transgender artists threatened boycotts over birth-sex bathroom requirements