RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION MAKES WAVES: “At the request of the university’s Muslim Students’ Association, George Washington began offering a once-weekly, female-only swim hour in March. But it only recently turned into an online debate over issues of religious and sexual discrimination and — though not always explicitly — racism, spurred by an article in the student newspaper, The GW Hatchet.”

UPDATE: From the comments: “Out of curiosity, if this hour had been demanded by Christian women, would it have even been considered?” No, but it would have been mocked. Stupid backward Christianists!

ANOTHER UPDATE: Reader Fran Akridge emails:

When I was a girl, coed swimming was called mixed bathing and it was often debated among Southern Baptists as to whether it was a sin. At the State Baptist Assembly in Alabama (during the early 50s), it was not allowed. Many churches avoided parties with swimming just to stay away from the debate.

Well, it does inspire lustful thoughts. But I say that’s not a bug, it’s a feature!