Planet Fitness in NC Faces Backlash Over Bathroom Incident Involving Transgender Woman

Planet Fitness has been in the news over the past decade for its so-called inclusive policy, which allows people to use the bathroom and locker rooms corresponding to their gender.

Planet Fitness’ website states: “We celebrate and champion diversity, and provide an atmosphere where everyone feels respected, accepted and belongs.”

They also state that “Members and Team Members will be treated according to their self-reported sexual orientation.”

The Planet Fitness at South New Hope Rd. In Gastonia, NC however, a supposed “member” was arrested after female gym-goers called 911 to report a man they claimed was naked in the women’s bathroom, and who asked a woman if she would help him lotion up and take a shower with him. The man claimed that he was a transgender female:

The dispatcher asked, “And what is he wearing?”

The caller replied, “Nada, nothing at all.”

The dispatcher replied, “OK so he’s completely naked?”

The caller stated, “He is completely naked.”

Channel 9 was told by sources that Miller had asked a female to rub lotion on his body and then shower.

The dispatcher asked, “Is that man still there?”

The caller replied, “Yes, he’s still in the restroom.” “It’s a male but he claims to be a female and won’t leave. He is walking around and showing us his —, and he will not leave.”

Christopher Miller, 38, was identified by WSOC-TV Channel 9 as the suspect. According to the channel, Miller had allegedly harassed women in the gymnasium before the police arrived. Here’s how he looks:

The Charlotte-based media outlet, as of this writing has not been able to confirm Miller’s claim of transgender identity. This is where the story becomes particularly interesting.

Planet Fitness has an incident policy in place for situations where there’s a dispute about the validity of someone claiming to be another gender. This is how it looks:

The team member should discuss their concerns directly with the member if they have a serious concern about or significant doubt regarding the person’s nonbinary or transgender status/identity. If the discussion with the team member does not resolve the serious concern or the doubt, then the club can ask for evidence to support the asserted gender of the member. If it is determined that a member has acted in bad faith by claiming a gender, their membership could be terminated.

As critics of Target’s and Planet Fitness’ policies have pointed out, an employee who questions a transgender customer is sure to be sued.

Lambda Legal, a group that advocates for the rights of LGBT people and their allies, has some thoughts on judging someone by how they appear.

What if someone does not look masculine enough or feminine to use the restroom in question?

It is not a rule that someone must dress a particular way to use the restroom. This type of “gender-policing” can be harmful to anyone, including transgender people, butch women, effeminate men, or anyone who dresses or grooms in a manner that does not conform to another’s gender standard. In addition, courts are increasingly finding that discrimination towards transgenders is sexism.

Also, they say it shouldn’t be required that someone who identifies as transgender use certain bathrooms if others are uncomfortable.

It is not acceptable to single out transgender people as the only ones using a particular bathroom. It is not a terrible idea to provide individual or unisex bathrooms, since they give TGNC people more options, as do people with children, people with disabilities, and those with young families.

These far-left groups advocate, as well, that companies train employees not to ask anyone about their gender when they enter a dressing room, bathroom, or locker room. They believe this is offensive and can cause great distress to transgender people.

In some states and cities, it’s even illegal.

Consider, for example, what the ACLU said about the issue of access to gender-segregated areas.

Some jurisdictions, such as Iowa, San Francisco, and D.C., go further and state that transgender individuals cannot be forced to prove their gender to access a public bathroom unless all users are required to present ID.

The ACLU thinks that while [unisex restrooms are] a good step in addressing concerns about transgenders and others, transgenders should be able to use the toilets that correspond to their gender identity instead of being limited to using only gender-neutral facilities.

This means that anyone intending to harm women and children can enter these facilities, without being asked, but by the time they realize they are not supposed to be in there, it is too late.

Planet Fitness’ policy to settle disputes about someone’s status as transgender is not a solution. It is not possible to prove that someone is transgender with a card. It is impossible to “prove”. It is enough for them to declare that they are.

In a nutshell: “inclusive” policies regarding gender-segregated institutions are dangerous for women.