Planet Fitness, a successful fitness chain and home of the trademarked ‘Judgment Free Zone,’ has banned a woman who repeatedly complained that a man was using the women’s room. According to a report on MassLive.com, Yvette Cormier of Midland County said this week that corporate officials told her she was no longer welcome after she made repeated statements last month about a “man” at the Planet Fitness location in Midland. “I was stunned and shocked. He looked like a man. He did not look like a woman,” Cormier told WNEM-TV in Saginaw, Mich. “It freaked me out because, why is a man in here?”
Employees at the Planet Fitness repeatedly explained to Cormier that their members are allowed to use the bathroom that corresponds to their gender identity. Additionally, management also explained that the member in question self-identified as a woman. Cormier then complained to their corporate office and was met with the same response.
McCall Gosselin, public relations director for Planet Fitness, confirmed that Cormier’s actions led to her being barred from the company’s facilities, although Gosselin didn’t specify what actions exactly led to the decision.
In a statement, she said, “Planet Fitness is committed to creating a non-intimidating, welcoming environment for our members. Our gender identity non-discrimination policy states that members and guests may use all gym facilities based on their sincere self-reported gender identity. The manner in which this member expressed her concerns about the policy exhibited behavior that management at the Midland club deemed inappropriate and disruptive to other members, which is a violation of the membership agreement and as a result her membership was cancelled.”
Cormier argued Planet Fitness should provide a separate locker room for transgender people, although the women’s locker room has private changing stalls and bathroom stalls with doors.
Char Davenport, a transgender woman who is a professor at Saginaw Valley State University as well as Delta College, told WNEM that she applauds Planet Fitness for understanding the needs of the transgender community.
But she said this would not be an issue if the club had “private showers and changing areas” to support LGBT rights without upsetting those who don’t understand them.
