Planet Fitness revoked the membership of a Christian woman who raised concerns about a man in the women's locker room. The incident, shared by the woman on social media, sparked criticism from groups like Libs of TikTok, who accused the gym of disregarding the safety of its female members.
The woman shared a photo of a man shaving in the women's locker room, expressing discomfort with his presence despite his self-identification as a woman. Planet Fitness later canceled her membership, prompting backlash from those questioning the gym's priorities.
In a subsequent video, the woman described encountering the man alongside a young girl in the locker room, noting the girl appeared unsettled by the situation. The man justified his presence by identifying as LGB, but the woman insisted it was inappropriate. Upon returning to the gym, she found her membership revoked.
Critics argue that Planet Fitness prioritized the man's presence over the safety of women and girls in private spaces. The woman urged others to speak out against such incidents, emphasizing the need to protect women's spaces.
Planet Fitness defended its actions, citing a policy allowing members to use facilities based on their self-reported gender identity. They stated the woman's social media post violated their rules against photographing individuals in locker rooms, leading to her membership termination.
This incident adds to the ongoing debate surrounding transgender individuals accessing gender-segregated spaces. It echoes concerns raised by female athletes like Riley Gaines, who filed a lawsuit against the NCAA for forcing them to compete against transgender women, alleging violations of Title IX rights.