Planet Fitness, a popular low-cost fitness chain, has recently been targeted with bomb threats at multiple locations due to its transgender locker room policy. The threats began after a female member’s membership was terminated for taking a photograph of a biological male who identified as a transgender woman shaving in the women’s locker room. While no bombs have been found, the threats have caused numerous facilities to evacuate as a precaution.
The first bomb threat occurred on March 15 at the Planet Fitness location in Fairbanks, Alaska. A 67-year-old woman named Patricia Silva had taken a photograph of the transgender individual in the women’s locker room and complained to the staff, resulting in her membership being terminated for violating the company’s policy against taking photographs in the locker room. Since then, Planet Fitness locations in 11 states have received nearly 50 bomb threats.
The bomb threats have spread across various states, including Connecticut, Rhode Island, Florida, Alabama, Maryland, Virginia, and North Dakota. Each location received threats, resulting in evacuations and disruptions for members. The threats highlight the controversy surrounding Planet Fitness’ transgender locker room policy and the tensions it has created among its members.
Before the bomb threats began, Ms. Silva took to social media to express her frustration about her membership being canceled. She described finding the transgender individual shaving in the women’s locker room and the subsequent confrontation. Planet Fitness justified the termination of Ms. Silva’s membership by citing its “Judgement Free Zone” policy and its gender identity non-discrimination policy, which allows members to use facilities that align with their self-reported gender identity. However, the company maintained that Ms. Silva violated their mobile device policy by taking photographs in the locker room.
The controversy intensified when Planet Fitness claimed that the photograph of the transgender individual shaving in the women’s locker room was fake. This led to accusations of a cover-up by the fitness chain and sparked outrage on social media. Calls to boycott Planet Fitness quickly went viral, resulting in a significant financial impact on the company. Within five days, the company’s market value plummeted from $5.3 billion to $4.9 billion.
This is not the first time Planet Fitness faced backlash over its transgender locker room policy. In 2015, the company revoked the membership of Yvette Cormier after she expressed concerns about a biological male identifying as a transgender woman using the women’s locker room at a Michigan location. Ms. Cormier filed a lawsuit, and the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that Planet Fitness violated consumer protection laws and breached its contract with Ms. Cormier.
The incidents at Planet Fitness have raised concerns about the potential for misuse or abuse of the transgender locker room policy. There have been cases of men taking advantage of the policy to gain access to women’s locker rooms. For example, a man in North Carolina was arrested after exposing himself in the women’s locker room and harassing female gym members. Another incident in Georgia involved a man allegedly exposing himself to a 15-year-old girl in a Planet Fitness women’s locker room.
The controversy surrounding Planet Fitness and its transgender locker room policy has garnered significant attention and sparked discussions about privacy and safety in public facilities. Former CEO Mike Grondahl expressed his disappointment in how the company’s “Judgement Free Zone” has evolved and lost respect due to the controversy. He also revealed that he was forced out of the company after bringing attention to sex crimes involving high school students committed by the company’s chief administrative officer and general counsel.
Overall, the bomb threats targeting multiple Planet Fitness locations have brought attention to the ongoing debate surrounding transgender individuals’ access to gender-specific facilities. The incidents highlight the challenges companies face in balancing inclusivity with privacy and safety concerns. As discussions continue, it remains to be seen how Planet Fitness will address these issues and rebuild its reputation among its members and the public.
