Martina Navratilova has publicly supported J.K. Rowling after the author highlighted an incident involving a Canadian mother, Angie Tyrrell, who experienced discomfort when a man wearing a bikini entered the women’s changing room at a public pool. Tyrrell reported that her 10-year-old daughter and a friend were disturbed by the sight of the man in the shower area, and when Tyrrell raised the issue with staff, they were dismissive, citing the facility’s policy of inclusivity for all gender identities.
Navratilova, a vocal advocate for women’s rights, backed Rowling’s condemnation of the incident, arguing that the safety of women and girls should always be prioritized. She criticized the defenders of such policies, particularly left-wing advocates, for seemingly contradicting their previous stances on the #MeToo movement, which emphasized the need to protect women from male predation.
Rowling, who had shared the report of the incident on social media, also expressed disappointment at how people who once rallied for the MeToo movement were now defending situations where men, identifying as women, were allowed to enter women’s spaces. The author questioned why the physical and emotional safety of women and girls wasn’t being prioritized over a man’s desire to “feel safe” in women’s spaces.
Navratilova echoed this sentiment, stressing that women-only spaces are essential and that the rights of women to feel safe should come first. The 18-time Grand Slam champion also showed her support for Rowling’s Beira’s Place, a service offering assistance to victims of sexual violence, which has faced significant criticism but remains a key initiative in providing safe spaces for women.
This ongoing debate touches on the broader issue of gender identity and the protection of women’s spaces, with figures like Navratilova and Rowling calling for a balance that ensures women’s safety while respecting transgender rights.
