The debate on the rights of transgender individuals versus the rights of businesses has once again sparked up. Recently, a women-only nude spa in Washington was ordered by a judge to accept transgender women who still have a penis. The ruling upheld a previous discrimination complaint by trans activist Haven Wilvich against the Olympus Spa. The Korean-style spa insisted that its “women-only rule is essential for the safety, legal protection, and well-being of our customers”. However, it agreed to accept transgender women who had undergone sex-confirming surgery.
Wilvich, who identified as a woman but had not undergone surgery, reported the spa for violating Washington State law. Spa owner Myoon Woon Lee sued to overturn the decision, saying it conflicted with his Christian beliefs and could put minors at risk. District Court Judge Barbara Jacobs Rothstein upheld the original ruling made by the WSHRC, stating that the measures taken to prevent the spa from having a female-only policy were lawful. This ruling has caused some controversy, with some arguing that it infringes on the rights of businesses to maintain their own policies.
While some may argue that businesses have the right to maintain their own policies and rules, it is crucial to remember that everyone deserves equal treatment and protection under the law. It was said this ruling does not mean that businesses should completely disregard safety concerns or legal protections for their customers. Instead, it means that businesses should find ways to accommodate all customers while still maintaining safety and legal standards. In this case, the spa agreed to accept transgender women who had undergone sex-confirming surgery.
The transgender community has been the subject of outrage and discrimination in many parts of the world. Despite increasing awareness and acceptance of gender diversity, many transgender individuals still face significant challenges in their daily lives.
These challenges have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a profound impact on policing and police reform worldwide. A recent report documents the effects of the pandemic on the Fairfax County Police Department, a large suburban police agency in Virginia.
The report highlights the need for police agencies to adapt quickly to maintain public safety while keeping their workforce safe from COVID-19, particularly when it comes to interactions with vulnerable communities such as transgender individuals. In addition to these challenges, transgender individuals also face discrimination in the legal system. The Judicial Council of California has published civil jury instructions that include updates to instructions first published in 2003.
While these updates may improve the legal system for transgender individuals over time, they also highlight the ongoing need for change and reform.