Michigan Water Park to Lesbian in Men's Trunks - 'Ma'am, You Have to Wear A Women's Bathing Suit'

Bathing suit controversies typically surround too little coverage, but at the WildWater Adventure park in Muskegon, Mich. a woman sporting men’s swim trunks and a tank top over a sports bra was told by a park supervisor that she must put on a women’s bathing suit to remain at the park, according to WSBT news.

“I hate to say it, but I think it’s because I’m a lesbian,” said the patron Jill Sweeney, who was at the park celebrating her bachelorette party with her fiancée, family, and friends.

Sweeney told reporters she’d checked the parks clothing regulations and while street clothes like jean shorts are definitely not allowed the stipulation was that all patrons must be in “swimsuits.” The rules did not specify that anyone needed to be in gender-specific swimwear.

“I’d already been in the lazy river and the wave pool and then my sister in law went up to go down the slide. And that’s when I was stopped,” Sweeney said, according to WSBT. “A supervisor had come up and she said, ‘Ma’am, you have to wear a women’s bathing suit. You’re not allowed to wear men’s.’”

“It’s not fair,” Sweeney told newscasters. “It’s embarrassing and it hurts. It really does,” she said.

Of the flare up over Sweeney’s swim ensemble park general manager Camille Mark told WSBT, “A sports bra would not be a swim suit. We require our patrons to wear swim suits and street clothes of any kind would not be allowed.”

When asked if Sweeney was targeted at the park because she is a lesbian Mark responded, “I couldn’t possibly comment on that. How would anyone be aware of [Sweeney’s] sexuality?”

Sweeney has sought advice from attorneys who handle discrimination cases. She says it’s not about money but getting an apology from the WildWater Adventure park, reports WSBT.