New York City's Human Rights Commission (HRC) has upheld a decision allowing women-only swimming hours at two public pools to accommodate religious beliefs.
In a decision handed down on Wednesday, the HRC allowed Orthodox Jewish women and members of other religions to use the pools, saying it did not violate the constitutional separation of church and state, the Associated Press reports.
The commission came up with the ruling after it investigated the matter based on an anonymous complaint. It said women-only swims are within human rights law and will not affect people's access to the swimming pools.
Orthodox Jewish women's religious beliefs bar them from bathing with men.
Under the new policy, the Metropolitan Pool's women-only hours will be cut to four hours per week.
The issue started when the city's Parks Department scrapped the women-only policy after the HRC sent it a notice that it violated rules against gender discrimination, the New York Daily News reports.
Swimmers and local politicians protested the move resulting in the department allowing the policy until a final decision was made.
"Women-only swimming hours provide an important accommodation to New Yorkers who may feel more secure and comfortable in a single-sex environment," according to Parks Department spokesman Sam Biederman. "NYC Parks is appreciative that the NYC Commission on Human Rights recognises the need to provide such safe and fair access at public facilities."
The new rule states that only women and girls will be allowed in the pool on Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Sundays from 2:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. compared to the standing policy of barring men for six hours a week.
The Parks Department said the new policy will include transgender women who must follow rules such as wearing proper attire and showering before swimming.
But others are saying that restricting men's access to the pools is wrong.
