Collingswood is reviewing its public pool rules after ‘recent incidents’: ‘Harassment of any resident will not be tolerated’
The borough announced the review after an anti-LGBTQ social media account posted about the pool's policies.
Collingswood is reviewing the borough’s public pool policies after “recent incidents” at Roberts Pool gained traction on social media, officials said Thursday.
“The safety and well-being of our residents and Borough employees is our highest priority, and we take these matters seriously,” the borough wrote on Facebook. “Harassment of any resident will not be tolerated. We are currently reviewing our pool policies to determine where updates or clarifications may be needed. Additional information will be shared as appropriate.”
The statement was posted after Libs of TikTok, an anti-LGBTQ social media account that often gets the attention of conservative media organizations, posted a screenshot from a private local borough Facebook group from someone seeking advice after being harassed for their attire during a visit to Roberts Pool.
The post from the conservative account also posted photos of the person and described them using transphobic language before pointing to what they called the pool’s “inclusivity policy” that allows people to use the locker rooms based on their gender identity.
Collingswood Mayor Daniela Solano-Ward declined to provide any details about the incidents that prompted the policy review, but said, “we’ve had multiple complaints over the past two weeks.”
“We are working to address them all in an appropriate and timely manner,” she said.
“We are taking this opportunity to review our entire rules and regs sheet that is distributed to both staff and patrons,” Solano-Ward said in an email.
An update on the policy review will be shared “after all relevant borough personnel have reviewed it,” she said.
The resident who was the target of the viral post declined to speak to The Inquirer citing fear of more backlash from the far-right.