Homophobia in Sailing?

It's a fair point but generally I have found (being trans myself) that a little common courtesy and mutual respect can sort out most of this out.
The RYA has some new transgender guidance out (http://www.rya.org.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/hr-administration/administration/Equality/RYA%20Diversity%20and%20Inclusion%20Guidance%20-%20Trans%20people.pdf) that I was pleased to have a tiny involvement with and covers the changing room thing quite well. It should be remembered that this can be as awkward a subject for the trans person as for anybody else and few people really want to make others or themselves feel uncomfortable or embarrassed. The RYA suggest if the club has disabled facilities that can be an option or providing a curtained off area if possible and point out that this may also be helpful for other such as families where a parent may need to help change their children of the opposite sex for instance. Failing that a toilet cubicle can always be used. Not ideal but better than not going sailing.

From my experience getting changed to go sailing is rarely a problem with a bit of planning but it's the getting changed back out of sailing gear once you are wet that can need a bit of thought for the trans person on how best to navigate this. This gets a whole deal harder for the trans person who wants to do open events at clubs they don't know well but it is entirely possible without undue stress with a little forethought and respect for others.

As I've said before most club members will soon work out that the trans person just wants to go sailing with as little hassle and as much fun as possible just like all the other members and a practical solution is usually found that is fair and respectful to all.

At one clunb I was a member we encouraged fathers with young daughters  t ouse the disabled shower room. This gave them the privacy and everyone was comfortable witth this.

Originally posted by piglet We have Fathers with young daughters in the mens at our club, it really isn't an issue if everyone is respectful. I have always argued for maintaining open changing rooms because it's friendlier, space efficient and actually safer for children because everyone can see what everyone else is doing. That said I think cubicles will be the future as the next generation of sailors are unnacustomed to the group nudity that us older sailors would have taken for the norm at school. My sons & their piers all shower with boxers on when in together whilst the old geezers are without.

Totally agree.

Funny isn't it, we 1970's and 80's kids have no problems with nudity in changing rooms (I'm counting rugby, football and sailing) but generation X, who probably have more <potential> exposure to nudity than ever before online and in the media are squeemish about showering naked and would probably run a mile if they saw the communal bath I notice is no longer a fixture of football or rugby changing rooms nowadays but was commanplace when I was playing regularly

Another indication of political correctness gone mad again. While this subject is shifting away from the original point, the issue of changing rooms is one that causes all sorts of agro but really shouldn't. I'm not a naturist but we are all human beings. We all know what the opposite sex looks like so why is it an issue? Until my daughter was able to change herself at the swimming pool I always took her into the gents changing room and didn't use the cubicles. At the sailing club the same situation although we don't have cubicles there. When my son goes swimming and my wife takes him, then he changes in the ladies changing rooms.
I think most parents know the right time to allow their children to fend for themselves.
As for transgender people, then I guess it's a bit more of an issue. Interestingly I know of at least four, but have never asked how they deal with it, but the RYA advice seems sensible enough.

Originally posted by 423zero I can't see an issue with pre-school children getting changed in opposite gender changing rooms, adults who have an issue can wait to use facilities.

My "issue" is that I don't know whether the father has an "issue" with my continuing to use the changing room in the normal way when his girls are present. I don't personally have a hang-up with nudity.