American Family Association: Planet Fitness Isn’t Safe for Women

TUPELO, Miss.—A Planet Fitness member, Yvette, was alarmed to find a transgender woman—defined as someone who is born as a male but who identifies as a female—in the women’s locker room while she was undressing. So she complained to her local Planet Fitness management and then to the corporate office—to no avail. When she alerted other female members of the situation, her membership was revoked.

American Family Association (AFA, www.afa.net) sent an Action Alert today to its one million-plus friends and supporters, urging them to contact Planet Fitness about the policy that makes Yvette and other women feel uncomfortable and unsafe.

“Planet Fitness is making the needs of its female members subservient to the sexual identification of transgender individuals,” said AFA President Tim Wildmon. “Unfortunately, Planet Fitness’ ‘all-inclusive’ environment and ‘judgement-free zone’ is leaving a large portion of its membership out in the cold. By catering to the wishes of the transgender lobby in order to appease a sexually confused man dressed as a woman, Planet Fitness is breeding a culture that is uncomfortable for women.”

Yvette Cournier, who saw the transgender woman in her Midland, Mich., gym’s locker room, told CNN last week that she “didn’t go out to specifically bash a transgender person that day … This is about me and how I felt unsafe. I should feel safe in there.”

According to Yahoo Health, which also reported on the story, “Upon seeing a transgender woman in the locker room, Cournier went to the gym’s front desk to complain, explaining, ‘I wanted to know why there was a man in the women’s locker room. He looked like a man, and that’s what stopped me in my tracks.’ Cournier was told by the front desk representative about Planet Fitness’ ‘no-judgment’ policy, which includes the use of bathrooms and locker rooms by individuals based on ‘their sincere, self-reported gender identity.’”

Planet Fitness, a national fitness gym with 938 locations nationwide, released the following statement about its transgender policies: “Planet Fitness is committed to creating a nonintimidating, welcoming environment for our members. Our gender identity nondiscrimination policy states that members and guests may use all gym facilities based on their sincere self-reported gender identity.”

“Planet Fitness accepts members as young as 13, and it’s irresponsible of the corporation to knowingly expose girls this young to men who identify as women, or boys this young to women who identify as men,” Wildmon continued. “We urge Planet Fitness to put the well-being of their members, particularly their youngest members, first and to reverse this policy.”

AFA suggested several ways concerned citizens can take action:

• Cancel your Planet Fitness membership and join another gym.
• Email the Planet Fitness corporate office at [email protected]. 
• Connect with Planet Fitness on its Facebook page.
• Contact local Planet Fitness franchises and politely let them know you are disappointed with Planet Fitness’ policies

Share AFA’s alert on your own Facebook page with family and friends.