Gym defends banning woman after she complained about trans customer

PinkNews logo with white background and rainbow corners

Planet Fitness has defended a decision to cancel a woman’s gym membership  – after she complained about a trans woman using the female changing rooms.

Yvette Cormier claims she just “voiced her concerns” with management of a Planet Fitness gym in Michigan, after encountering a transgender woman getting changed.

However, management said that Cromier was “inappropriate and disruptive” over the issue – and revoked her membership.

A statement 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.

“In expressing her concerns about the policy, the member in question exhibited behaviour that club management deemed inappropriate and disruptive to other members, which is a violation of the membership agreement and as a result her membership was cancelled”

Despite claiming that she was only raising “concerns” about the issue, Cormier has consistently misgendered the woman in interviews with press outlets about the incident.

She told local news outlet WNEM: “I was stunned and shocked. He looked like a man.. He did not look like a woman.

“They told me… that he was allowed in there because that’s the sex he wants to be. This is very unprofessional. This is very scary.”

WNEM has since apologised for also inaccurately reporting that the person was ‘a man’ – but the story has already gained traction with anti-LGBT groups.

WNEM anchor Gino Vicci said: “Out of respect to the transgender community I would like to correct any references made to this person being a male rather than a transgender woman.”