On August 10, Fehr Düsel, who represents the Swiss People’s Party, published a statement condemning the nation’s overly-simplistic gender identity change process, which became law in 2022. Since then, Swiss citizens have been able to pay a nominal fee, the equivalent of less than $100 USD, and instantly change their name and sex marker at any registry office.
In her statement, Fehr Düsel references a recent incident at Bern’s Marzilibad. famous outdoor swimming and riverside bathing area at the Aare River. Marzilibad has a designated, segregated nude area called the “Paradiesli” which is only open to women.
In June, a controversy erupted after a male claiming to be transgender entered the nude area and caused discomfort amongst the female sunbathers.
The man, who was described as having a beard, back hair, and penis, was confronted by multiple patrons who asked him to leave. He claimed he had a right to use the area because of he identified as a woman.
Female sunbathers then escalated their concerns to the park’s security, which called the regional police after the man continued to refuse to leave. Police arrived and attempted to check the man’s ID for evidence he was “legally” a woman, but the man would not provide it. He was then arrested.
According to local reports, some pro-trans patrons attempted to defend the man and assaulted a female police officer during the arrest. The officer sustained minor injuries as a result.
The city later issued an apology to the trans-identified male, concluding that he had been “improperly removed” from the women’s area.
“All people who identify themselves as women and live as such have access to the voluntary nudist area Paradiesli,” the city wrote in a statement.
Fehr Düsel highlighted the bizarre situation in her August 10 statement.