Planet Fitness Cancels Woman's Membership After Complaints on Trans Woman

Officials from a Planet Fitness in Michigan revoked a woman's membership last month after she repeatedly complained about a transgender woman in the changing rooms, MLive reports.

Yvette Cormier said her membership from Planet Fitness in Midland County, Mich., was revoked on Feb. 28 after complaining about a transgender woman in the gym's facilities.

"I was blocked, because a man was standing there," Cormier told MLive. "It freaked me out because, why is a man in here?"

Nevertheless, the employee at the front desk told Cormier that the person in question identifies as a woman. Unsatisfied, she then brought her complaints to the gym's corporate office but was told Planet Fitness is a "no judgment zone" and that they would not ask the woman to leave the changing room. MLive notes the slogan, "judgment free zone," is often used by Planet Fitness.

Cormier, however, returned to the gym every day that week and spoke with other women in the locker room about the incident and argues she disagrees with the gym's policy, citing her safety.

After speaking with other women, Cormier told MLive she received a call from Planet Fitness' corporate office telling her she was in violation of the gym's "no judgment" policy. Cormier said they asked if she was going to stop talking to other women about the incident and she told gym officials that she was not.

Cormier said the Planet Fitness official then told her she was no longer welcomed at the gym.

Planet Fitness' public relations director McCall Gosselin released a statement explaining the incident and said members can use the facilities corresponding to their personal gender identity.

"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 told MLive she feels "like I am the one who is being punished," adding that Planet Fitness should create a third locker room for trans people.

It should be noted that Planet Fitness's locker rooms offer private changing stalls and has bathroom stalls with doors.

Carlotta Sklodowski, the woman about whom Cormier complained, told her side of the story in a separate MLive article. She said she asked Planet Fitness' front desk which changing room she should use and they told her to use the one that corresponds with how she was dressed.

She also revealed she's not an actual member and was there as a guest of her friends. Sklodowski also said that she only entered the locker room to hang up her coat and purse and then to get them after her workout.

She told MLive she uses public bathrooms all the time and has never had a problem and that when she was in the Planet Fitness locker room that she did not see anyone who was distressed or visibly uncomfortable.

Skoldowski said she realized she was at the center of the story after friends told her about the news. She claims to be the only trans person in Midland and that's how she figured out Cormier complained about her.

The Human Rights Campaign lauded Planet Fitness' policy and for canceling Cormier's membership after she refused to stop complaining about Skoldowski.