Pol offers ‘his’ & ‘her’ beach days for devout
A BROOKLYN city lawmaker is sponsoring sex-segregated beach days to give his Jewish and Muslim constituents an opportunity to enjoy the surf and sand.
City Councilman Chaim Deutsch announced a “Southern Brooklyn Beach Day,” with separate dates for men and women at a sandy spot behind Kingsborough Community College.
“A lot of people are disenfranchised for religious reasons,” the Democrat said. “They don’t use the beach because they don’t go mixed swimming. This is to give those people an opportunity for a day out at the beach.”
Modesty prohibits men and women who are Orthodox Jews and Muslims from swimming together.
Deutsch, an observant Jew, plans to pay to rent the space by the publicly financed community college. He said the permit fee, which hasn’t been determined, will come from private donations.
Men and boys can go to the beach from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on June 29. Women and girls can go during the same time period on July 27. If necessary, a rain date will be announced. Visitors will be allowed to park for free.
“Enjoy a private day in the sun and sand at the beautiful, secluded beach,” a flyer publicizing the event reads.
But sorting out the legality of the event may be no day at the beach for the city’s Human Rights Commission. City law says public accommodations cannot exclude people based on sex unless there’s an exemption “based on bona fide consideration of public policy.”
Deutsch said he believes that will not be an issue because private money will pay permit fees .