‘No Judgment’ Gym Bans Woman for Improper Transgender Treatment

AMBER LI
Staff Writer

On Feb. 28 in Midland, Michigan Yvette Cormier lost her Planet Fitness gym membership for her negative behavior toward a transgender woman in the gym’s locker rooms. According to CNN, club management felt that the tone with which Cormier claimed she was concerned for her own safety and privacy of other female members was inappropriate. After she expressed her complaints to the front desk and was told about the gym’s “no-judgment” policy, she continued to return the week after to spread the news of the “man” in the locker room to other female gym members. Cormier should not have been quick to discriminate against Carlotta Sklodowska solely because she was transgender.

Although Cormier was told of the gym’s “no-judgment” policy that allowed people to use the locker rooms according to their self-identified genders, she still judged Sklodowska, based off the fact that she was transgender. Not only did she intrude on that policy, but her actions created an uncomfortable and intimidating environment for Sklodowska. Cormier’s penalty was well-deserved since she was disrespectful of the individual’s privacy, safety and general rights.

However, this is not the only case in which a transgender person was discriminated against. According to the National Center for Transgender Equality, 63 percent of the transgender population experiences serious acts of discrimination at work, in schools, in medical fields and more. Transgender people cannot continue to live their lives normally if they are discriminated against. The judgments and biases against transgender people are unfair, placing heavy and unnecessary burdens on them. In this day and age, transgender acceptance should be a naturally occurring thing in society. Judgment towards transgenders must urgently stop.