Woman Sues Planet Fitness Over Its Transgender-Friendly Locker Room Policy

A Michigan woman has slapped Planet Fitness with a lawsuit over it's transgender-friendly locker room policy. Yvette Cormier says on February 28, she went change in the locker room in the gym in Midland, Michigan where she encountered a "large, tall man." She says she went to the front desk to complain, but employees told her the person in question -- Carlotta Sklodowska -- identifies as a transgender woman and is therefore allowed to use the women's locker room and if she's uncomfortable she should wait until Carlotta was done changing. Unsatisfied with that answer, Yvette stormed out and contacted Planet Fitness' corporate office, which told her the same thing because it's company policy. Over the next several days, Yvette began complaining to fellow gym members about the policy and she says on March 4 Planet Fitness retaliated against her by canceling her membership. In her complaint, Yvette is seeking more than $25,000 for invasion of privacy, breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress and three counts of sexual harassment under the Elliott-Larsen Act.

Here's the complaint.



Sidebar: In an interview following the fracas, Carlotta said she is not a member of Planet Fitness, but was there twice as a guest of friends. She said she entered the women's locker room to hang up her coat and purse, and then to retrieve the items after her workout. Both times, she said, she didn't notice anyone who looked distressed about her presence. Carlotta admits she physically looks like a man, but she regularly uses women's public bathrooms and no one prior to Yvette has complained. She says she's not out to harm anyone.