Mich. GOPer: Planet Fitness Policy On Trans Members Is 'Anti-Woman'

[DonViejo]

A Michigan lawmaker believes that Planet Fitness' policy allowing trans members to use the locker room that corresponds with their gender identity threatens the safety of women, MLive reported on Monday.

Republican state Rep. Gary Glenn told MLive that the policy "violates the privacy, comfort and peace of mind of women."

A Midland, Mich. Planet Fitness gym last week terminated the membership of a female member who complained that the gym allowed a trans woman to use the women's locker room.

A Planet Fitness spokesperson, McCall Gosselin, said the gym allows trans individuals to choose which locker room they use in order to create a "non-intimidating, welcoming environment for our members."

more
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/michigan-gop-rep-trans-planet-fitness

[MineralMan]

1. Folks need to get over this stuff.

Really.

[LeftyMom]

2. I wonder what his DU name is.

[Behind the Aegis]

3. I bet I know!

But don't worry, this will pass when the transsexual fad passes! (Yes, someone actually called transsexualism a "fad!&quot

[LeftyMom]

6. I saw that.

When I have a few I think I need to write an OP about language and being a good ally, because even a lot of the generally helpful posts on that thread had some cringeworthy stuff. :/

[Behind the Aegis]

10. I think it would be good for an ally to address other allies (or potential ones).

When we do it, it sometimes falls on deaf ears.

[LeftyMom]

12. I'm remodeling so carving out a solid hour is hard,

but I've been kicking the idea around mentally for a while and I think I need to get some coffee and park my ass in front of the keyboard tonight. I see a lot of mostly well-intended derpage going on that needs some gentle correction, and some malicious bullshit that needs separated out.

[Codeine]

8. They said that here?!

Fuck me.

[Behind the Aegis]

9. Yup! And this was NOT a newbie!

A few others made the story into something it wasn't, including the poor bigot complaining having to face "dangling male parts" (the event took place in the common area of the women's locker room, and the complainant supposedly only saw the back of the person in question).

[msanthrope]

21. Oh, goddess, yes. They did. nt

[backscatter712]

19. I'll wear my latest hide with pride.

That particular transphobe can kiss my ass.

[msanthrope]

20. I alerted on that.....holy crap. nt

[City Lights]

5. No shit! nt

[Behind the Aegis]

4. This reeks of "won't somebody PLEEEEEASE think of the children" legislation.

Women's safety is very important, and that includes all women. The idea that some still think transwomen aren't women and therefore cisgendered women need protecting from them is bigotry to the highest degree. This isn't an "either/or" situation which a few have tried to make this out to be.

[NuclearDem]

7. Transwomen are women too.

[uponit7771]

11. Unnnnn, I'm going to go ahead and get flamed on this by saying there needs to be some balance...

... I am aware of one too many conservatives (I live in Texas) who would be happy to go into a locker room daily full of naked opposite sex by claiming they're transgender.

I don't put a damn thang past the nuts here ....

There isn't a standard to say a person is transgender or not from just appearance alone...

denoting or relating to a person whose self-identity does not conform unambiguously to conventional notions of male or female gender.

I don't know what the best solution would be...


Flame away....

[gollygee]

14. Planet Fitness doesn't have any common space where people change or are naked

they have individual private shower/changing stalls. Nudity is not relevant to this situation. A transgender woman was in a common area of the changing room where people put coats and purses in lockers, and that's all they do there.

[uponit7771]

16. thank you for the clarification, then the lady who protested wasn't minding her own business...

... and had no reason to impose

[alarimer]

23. Yes they do.

At least in the one I go to. In the locker area, people change all the time; I often change into my workout stuff there and so do most people. But there are also toilet stalls and shower stalls, and I'm sure some people use those to change in as well. There are not enough of those for every single person to use. There are maybe 5 or 6 of each.

[gollygee]

24. I have never seen anyone change at my Planet Fitness

and it doesn't appear to be set up for that. It's barely hidden from the main part of the building. Just one step through the door and you're in that main area.

[City Lights]

15. You know men who would dress as a woman daily and claim to be transgendered

just to try and get into the women's locker room?

[uponit7771]

17. Transgender doesn't have a look standard... part of the definition is ...

does not conform unambiguously to conventional notions of male or female gender.

that could be person who dress with just earrings and that's it...

and yes, dawning a wig and going into a female locker room wouldn't hurt these idiots the least if that's what it took...

[Bluenorthwest]

22. So how many straight conservative men have you ever heard of doing this? Zero or none?

Your words here are those of a very uninformed person. If I wrote what I think I'd get a hide, so I'm just thinking it.
The verb meaning 'to put on, as in apparel' is 'don' not 'dawn'. Perhaps you will don your thinking cap and with effort, the flaws in your reasoning might dawn on you.

[uponit7771]

30. Never said I heard of anyone doing this just that there are plenty who would and would have no quams

... about it

[City Lights]

25. How many men do you know who have tried this?

How many do you know that have succeeded in "dawning a wig and going into a female locker room?"

[11 Bravo]

13. Yeah, I've often thought about frivolously having my dick cut off just so ...

I could gain admittance to a woman's locker room in order to ogle and fantasize about women with whom I would no longer be able to have intercourse.

[backscatter712]

18. I wonder how many DUers agree with this bigot...

According to one, transgender people are just going through a "fad"...

[AverageJoe90]

26. The irony abounds with this one.

Because this guy is a member of a party that, over the past 10 years in particular, has shown little, if any, genuine regard for the health and safety of female humans.

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

27. Im of two minds about this -

GOP male legislator speaking for all women? What's wrong with this picture! Seriously, maybe its not for him to determine what makes women safe.

On the other hand, as a woman who ( like many) has a certain amt of ptsd around male sexuality - I really do not want a person with a penis in a private women-only space. I would hope there could be a way that accomodations can be made where everyone could feel safe and comfortable... but just saying "get over it" is not helpful.

[backscatter712]

28. We don't make "comfort zones" by stripping other of civil rights. n/t

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

29. sorry its not clear how your comment applies to this situation - or to my comment

That's what I'm saying - your rights end where mine begins!

[backscatter712]

31. As long as a transgender woman's minding her own business,

the issues, such as PTSD, of those around her aren't her problem. She has every right to use women's public facility like every other woman.