Skated at the Alice Noble Ice Arena with a friend of mine who was disappointed that I wasn’t allowed to skate in my dress. The next time I skate in pants, it will be by my choice, not what someone else tells me I should be wearing.
Wearing a dress doesn’t change who I am, sure some people play dress up and pretend to be something else. For myself I am still me, I am still the same person in pants or skirts. Some people do use clothing to change themselves, and some clothing is used for people to be themselves.
Certainly you can’t have a firefighter fighting a fire wearing a polyester suit, but someone who is not a firefighter does not become one by wearing firefighting attire. And just because a firefighter is not wearing their kit, doesn’t mean they are not a firefighter.
I enjoy skating, and enjoy it just as much if I’m wearing a dress, for people to go out of their way and otherwise deny me the same privilege that others have is ridiculous.
Received an email from the manager at Alice Noble Ice Arena for the link to the adult ice, and contrary to what they told me on July 27th, I will not be allowed to wear my dress as kids will be around. They also informed me that the Monday, Wednesday, and Friday freestyle sessions are now restricted to 21 and younger.
Back at Alice Noble Ice Arena with warm-up pants over my dress as it can’t be visible since there are kids around.
Atmosphere is much colder today except for the gentleman at check in, he was cheerful and polite. Other people I have been skating with seemed distant and not very talkative, such a shame.
On July 27th I tried to skate at the Alice Noble Ice Arena in one of my favorite skating dresses, only to be approached by the manager saying that they would not allow me to skate in a skirt with kids present.
My Favorite dress
What I wore that day.
Walking up to the front door I was temperature checked and told good to go. I proceeded inside and took a chair outside the rink and proceeded to put my skates on. While tying my right skate a person approached me and said their name was Seth and that I would not be allowed to skate on the ice around kids while wearing a skirt. He also told me that other rinks had warned him of me skating in dresses.
I said my choice of attire is considered free speech and I’ve skated in Chicago and New York without issues, he said “This is Northeast Ohio.” I tried to argue my point and the error in their request, instead I was told that they are a non-profit organization. As such they can say what I’m allowed or not allowed to wear when skating and children shouldn’t be subjected to a man wearing a skirt. They then said I would be allowed to skate in a dress on their unadvertised adult freestyle sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They asked if I wanted my money back of which i said would be in their best interest. I received a refund, put my shoes on, and left.
I’ve skated in a dress at plenty of places, kids haven’t been the issue, parents of kids at times have been an issue, and it’s unfortunate that they chose fear instead of education. I mean seriously, do they think someone dressed as I was would try to harm their kids?
