A local council in Greater Sydney has caused outrage after banning men and women from wearing thongs and G-strings in its public pools, according to reports in Australia.
Blue Mountains Leisure Centres (BMLC), part of Blue Mountains City Council, is said to have confirmed the ban in a post on Facebook following confusion among visitors who had seen a poster at its five pools.
The posters featured images of swimwear and indicated whether it was deemed to be appropriate or inappropriate, news.com.au reports.
In a now-deleted post on Facebook clarifying the rules, BMLC is said to have written: “Much of (the confusion) focused on a poster showing the kind of swimwear that is and isn’t appropriate. It’s important to remember that these images are indicative only.
“In particular, the image of ‘revealing swimwear/thongs’ has raised some eyebrows. This image refers to thongs and G-strings – not bikini tops and bottoms.
“Thongs and G-string swimwear is not acceptable for males or females when visiting our leisure centres.”
The post added that “bikinis are acceptable and considered recognised swimwear”.
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The ban has reportedly sparked fury among some Australians.
Jess King, a body confidence model, wrote in an Instagram story: “Such a ban implies that the human body – specifically the bum, (which we all have!!) – is inherently inappropriate or sexualised, reinforcing shame rather than promoting acceptance.”
Australian TV hosts Sarah Harris and Georgie Tunny are reported to have weighed in on the debate during a segment dedicated to the ban that aired on their show The Project.
Ms Tunny said: “I just don’t care what people are wearing.
“If they feel confident enough to wear that, then I am happy for them to do it.”
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Ms Harris agreed, stating: “I wish I could wear them. My bum looks like a garbage bag filled with cottage cheese. If you’ve got it, flaunt it.”
Meanwhile, under BMLC’s post explaining the rule, one person commented: “So long as (practicality) and safety are considered it shouldn’t be anyone else’s business what I’m comfortable swimming in.”
Another person told Australian media: “This is absolutely ridiculous, the people that’s eyebrows are being ‘raised’ shouldn’t be at a public pool if they can’t control themselves.”
However, one swimmer wrote below BMLC’s post on Facebook: “It’s about the rules … don’t like them? Then swim and bare your bum elsewhere.”
The ban comes nearly a year after throngs of thong-wearing protesters bared their bums on Australia’s Gold Coast as they showed their opposition to calls for a ban on G-string bikini bottoms.
The demonstration, named “Free The Peach”, took place at Kurrawa Beach.
