European capital forced to apologise after biological man removed from women's nude baths
The Swiss city of Bern issued a grovelling apology after police used 'rough physical force' to remove the trans woman from the area
A European capital has apologised to a biological man who was removed from a women-only nude bathing section at a popular swimming spot.
On Sunday, the trans bather was turfed out of the "Paradiesli", a female-only nudist section at the Marzili lido in Bern, Switzerland.
Fellow bathers questioned why the transgender swimmer was there, claiming she did not appear to be biologically female.
Other swimmers came to her defence as tensions escalated at the site.
The swimmer is said to have refused to leave the area.
Lido staff were unable to defuse the confrontation and had to call the police.
According to those supporting the trans woman, officers used "rough physical force" to push him to the ground before placing him in handcuffs.
The swimmer was detained at a police station for around two hours and later spent the night in hospital.
The incident occurred on Sunday at the Marzili lido's 'Paradiesli' area, a female-only nudist section at the riverside complex in Bern
"The police operation was disproportionate," witnesses claimed.
Officers gave a different account, saying the trans bather had actively resisted and ignored multiple requests to get out of the women-only zone.
Police also said bystanders had interfered with their operation.
An officer was allegedly assaulted by an unidentified person during the incident, the force revealed.
Authorities in Bern have now revealed the biological man was, in fact, entitled to use the facility under current regulations.
"All persons who identify and live as women have access," the city said.
Officials said calling police was the wrong decision.
The city has committed to ensuring staff receive clearer guidance on the rules to avoid similar situations.
Switzerland introduced legislation in 2022 allowing anyone aged 16 or older to change their gender through self-declaration at a civil registry office.
Switzerland introduced legislation in 2022 permitting anyone aged 16 or older to change their legal gender through self-declaration
Requirements vary by region, with some areas asking for medical certification of their transgender identity or evidence of hormone treatment.
In December, a Swiss musician was convicted of hate speech after making a gender-critical post on social media.
Emanuel Brunisholz wrote on Facebook : “If you excavate LGBTQI [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex] people after 200 years, you will only find men and women among the skeletons; everything else is a mental illness that was fostered by the curriculum!”
After refusing to pay a 500 Swiss francs (£460) fine for discrimination and incitement to hatred, he spent 10 days in prison.
Mr Brunisholz wrote on social media: “I am fully prepared to go to prison, if that is what it takes to expose the absurdity and authoritarianism of the trans ideology that has now taken root in Switzerland."