Planet Fitness is a popular gym company facing criticism for its policy on gender identity. The company's value has declined by $400 million in the past week after a female customer shared a photo on social media of a transgender woman using the female locker room.
The viral video, shared by Patricia Silva, was taken at an Alaska fitness center where she encountered a man shaving in the women's locker room. In the video, Silva is seen expressing her discomfort with the situation and complaining to the front desk. She also details the incident that got her membership revoked.
"I went to Planet Fitness...walked in the bathroom, and there stands a MAN shaving...I looked at him, said 'hey'...he looked up...and I said, 'You are a man shaving in the women's bathroom, and I am not OK with that'," Silva says in the video.
She goes on to explain that the man identified as 'queer' and that she saw a young girl, around 12 years old, in a towel looking frightened in the corner of the locker room. She also claims that the gym canceled her membership and allowed the man to continue using the women's locker room.
Planet Fitness has a policy in its Operations Manual that addresses the use of locker room facilities by transgender individuals. The policy states that "some members may feel uncomfortable with a transgender member using the same locker room facilities, bathrooms, showers, or other facilities/programs separated by sex. This discomfort is not a reason to deny access to the transgender member."
However, the policy also states that if it is confirmed that a member is "acting in bad faith and improperly asserts a gender identity," the gym has the right to ask them to leave and terminate their membership. This was the case in 2015 when a Michigan woman sued the gym after her membership was terminated for complaining about a transgender woman using the locker room.
The incident has sparked a debate on social media, with many criticizing Planet Fitness for its policy and others praising it for being inclusive and promoting acceptance. Some have even called for a boycott of the gym, comparing it to Bud Light's recent market decline after a controversial ad campaign involving a transgender influencer.
Planet Fitness' stock price has seen a significant decline since the incident and has dropped by 13.6% in the past month. The company's market value has also decreased from $5.3 billion to $4.9 billion in the same timeframe.
In response to the backlash, Planet Fitness released a statement defending its policy and stating that it stands by its decision to revoke Silva's membership. They also clarified that the policy is not a blanket invitation for individuals to enter the locker room of their choosing, adding that if a person is found to be acting in bad faith, they may be asked to leave and their membership terminated.
The controversy surrounding Planet Fitness' gender identity policy highlights the ongoing debate and controversy surrounding the issue. While some praise the gym for being inclusive and welcoming to all, others argue that their policy compromises the safety and comfort of their members, particularly women and children.
It remains to be seen how this incident will affect Planet Fitness' market value and customer base in the long run. As of now, the company stands by its policy and maintains that it is committed to creating an inclusive and accepting environment for all its members.