Gym chain Planet Fitness is standing by its decision to allow transgender women in the women’s locker rooms after a woman details her encounter with an alleged transgender woman shaving in the female-designated area. The gym brand is now also facing a national boycott.
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Things began with customer Patricia Silva claiming that she encountered an individual, whom she described as “a man with a penis,” while visiting a Planet Fitness location in Fairbanks, Alaska. Taking to her Facebook account, Silva detailed her interaction with a transgender woman in a video. Silva said the individual defended themself by saying “I’m Queer, LGB…” However, Silva said this was still an invasion of privacy as the transgender woman was carrying out their routine in the presence of a 12-year-old girl.
Silva, who previously ran for Fairbanks Borough Assembly, told the transgender woman that they should be using the men’s locker room. Silva said, “I love him in Christ. He is a spiritual being having a human experience. He doesn’t like his gender so he wants to be a woman, but I’m not comfortable with him shaving in my bathroom.”
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Silva also took a picture of the transgender woman and shared it online. After confronting the trans woman and exposing their situation online, Silva noted that Planet Fitness terminated her membership and banned her from their facilities. The nationwide gym chain is now standing by its decision to ban Patricia Silva and continue to allow transgender women inside the women’s locker rooms.
A spokesperson for Planet Fitness spoke out and said, “As the home of the Judgement Free Zone, Planet Fitness is committed to creating an inclusive environment. Our gender identity non-discrimination policy states that members and guests may use the gym facilities that best align with their sincere, self-reported gender identity. The member who posted on social media violated our mobile device policy that prohibits taking photos of individuals in the locker room, which resulted in their membership being terminated.”
Firing back at the statement, Silva said, “This morning I got canceled. Planet Fitness is defending the man in the women’s locker room, the man with a penis, rather than the child sitting in the corner with a towel wrapped around her.” Silva’s situation continued to go viral on social media and even prompted a response from the owner of X (formerly Twitter), Elon Musk, who reacted to one of her videos with an exclamation point.
According to Planet Fitness’ non-discriminatory policy posted to its website, Planet Fitness employees cannot discriminate against transgender people, but may be required to investigate the situation if a “serious concern or significant doubt” arises about an individual’s gender identity.
The policy continues to state, “If it is confirmed that a member is acting in bad faith and improperly asserts a gender identity, they may be asked to leave and their membership may be terminated.”
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