Gym Cancels Woman's Membership After She Complains About a Transgender Patron

A Michigan woman's gym membership was revoked because she refused to stop complaining about a transgender patron. According to Michigan Live, the incident started when a Planet Fitness member named Yvette Cormier went to use the women's gym's locker room at the Midland location. "I was blocked, because a man was standing there," Cormier told Michigan Live. "It freaked me out because, why is a man in here?" Cormier sought out a gym employee to complain, but was told that members are allowed to use whatever locker room they want to, based on the gender they identify themselves as, ABC News reports: "And then he said, 'We've had lots of complaints about him but we told him to go change in a stall,'" Cormier said. "He said, 'if you're uncomfortable with that you can wait until he's done in there,'" she said. "I stood back and said, 'How about he waits until I'm done in the women's locker room. Or get a unisex bathroom.' He asked if I would like to talk to the manager and I said, 'I'm calling corporate.' Cormier then complained to the Planet Fitness corporate office but got a similar response. She said the company told her the gym was a "no judgement zone" and they would not bar transgender members from using the locker rooms of their choice. Cormier returned to the gym last week, reportedly telling other women at the gym about the incident. She told ABC News Planet Fitness contacted her and said she was "making people upset" by talking about the incident to other patrons at the gym. "That's my whole point," she said. "I'm telling them and warning them because you are not doing that. You allow men in there, and we are appalled by it." [caption id="attachment_69423" align="alignnone" width="980"] Getty + Bernard Weil[/caption] On Thursday, Planet Fitness revoked her membership from the gym, releasing a statement about their policies and addressing Cormier's actions in the wake of her complaint: "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." A corporation standing up for the gender identity rights of one of its customers? Is it Christmas already? A trans woman who believes she is the target of Cormier's complaint came forward on Sunday, telling Michigan Live she believes she is the person who Cormier saw that day. Carlotta Sklodowska said she only used the locker room to hang up her coat and purse. Sklodowska said she asked about the locker room policy regarding transgender individuals before entering the women's locker room. "You use the locker room that corresponds with how you are dressed," she said the Planet Fitness employee told her. LGBT activists have applauded the gym's decision, calling the policy an issue of safety Source: Cosmopolitan