NYC To Allow Separate Gender Swimming

Brooklyn, NY – Mayor de Blasio, NYC Commission on Human Rights and NYC Parks and Recreation are being praised for announcing a citywide decision to continue separate gender swimming programs at certain NYC public pools.

The announcement to keep separate swimming schedules comes after pool officials at Metropolitan Pool in Williamsburg notified several women that the program would be discontinued. Women from the community then turned to Assemblyman Dov Hikind, who criticized the city for not being more “culturally sensitive and respecting of others,” noting that the program had been in place for decades.

Hikind released the following statement today:

“I’m so proud that NYC is making separate swimming accommodations kosher not just for the Chassidic community, but for all women. The fact that the Commission on Human Rights is formally recognizing separate swimming hours is unprecedented. It’s historic. I’m thrilled to thank Mayor de Blasio and the Commission for continuing to accommodate and properly respect those differences.”

“There are hundreds of people regardless of race, religion or creed that feel more comfortable swimming separately from the opposite gender. By respecting everyone’s differences, NYC sends an unequivocal message encouraging and promoting citywide cultural diversity.

“There are hundreds of people regardless of race, religion or creed that feel more comfortable with same-gender swimming. By respecting everyone’s differences, NYC sends an unequivocal message encouraging and promoting citywide cultural diversity.”

Rabbi Moshe Dovid Niederman, president of United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg, issued the following statement:

“Today’s decision will enable many women, especially elderly, of all faiths and backgrounds, including Orthodox Jews and Muslims, who want this privacy for many reasons, to continue having their recreation and therapeutic swimming which is so important for their health and well-being. We thank Mayor Bill de Blasio, and his Human Rights Commission for this right and fair decision, reaffirming our foundational principle that we all are created equal, and endowed by the Creator with certain unalienable Rights. We are especially thankful to Assemblyman Dov Hikind, for leading the fight to defend the rights of these women.”

{Matzav.com Newscenter}