Human rights panel to keep women-only hours at NYC public pools
Women-only swimming hours will continue at two city pools, accommodating mostly Orthodox Jewish women.
Normally such gender discrimination would be banned under New York Human Rights Laws. However, the New York City Commission on Human Rights has the power to grant exceptions to that rule based on gender or age. Two exceptions were granted Wednesday after a months’ long review of the legality of the special swimming sessions. An anonymous tip of possible human rights violations earlier this year prompted the initial review.
The Met Pool in Williamsburg will decrease its women-only swim hours from 6.5 to four hours per week. The pool at the St. Johns Recreation Center in Crown Heights will continue to offer two hours per week. The adjusted hours go into effect at the end of the summer.