A Florida-based Planet Fitness health club is deciding to promote a transgender ideology at the expense of the safety and security of women. A woman, known in this article as Mrs. H., is taking legal action against Planet Fitness, saying the health club is discriminating against her after she expressed her objections to a ‘transgender’ man being allowed in the ladies’ locker room.
Mrs. H. allegedly made vocal comments about the presence of the man, Jordan Rice in the ladies’ locker room. Because of her comments to other female members of the gym, her membership at Planet Fitness was terminated. Liberty Counsel is representing Mrs. H. in the lawsuit against Planet Fitness.
“This is not the only incident with Mr. Rice known to Planet Fitness,” states a letter sent by Liberty Counsel to the CEO of Planet Fitness. “Another woman reported that he exposed his naked body to her in the women’s locker room at this location. In another instance, he was involved in an argument with another woman over use of the tanning room. Misogynist, anti-woman harassment should have no place in Planet Fitness locations, and violates Florida law.”
The letter goes on to explain that Mrs. H. is herself a survivor of an attempted violent rape, and is “keenly aware” situations where men have “no legitimate purpose” and in which women are placed in vulnerable situations. The letter says:
Mrs. H. entered, and noticed him. She was disturbed by his presence, politely confronted him and asked him to leave the women’s locker room. Instead, he smirked back at her, and continued to stare at her, remaining standing in front of the mirror “applying makeup,” where he had a full view of every single woman entering or exiting the shower area and every single locker, Mrs. H.’s locker, which was directly behind him within three (3) feet.
When Mr. Rice refused to leave, Mrs. H. herself left to give him time to finish what he was doing, so she could use the restroom in privacy. Mr. Rice remained there for at least an hour, “applying makeup,” to intentionally deny Mrs. H. the privacy she desired. He was observed to have entered and exited the locker room, wearing the same clothes, and had not showered or changed. Despite a male employee observing that Mr. Rice’s behavior was “over the top,” staff did not intervene and ask him to finish his business, but permitted him to monopolize the women’s locker room. This impeded Mrs. H.’s rightful use of the women’s locker room.
A records request reveals that Mr. Rice (incredibly) had called the police to falsely report that he had been “sexually harassed” by Mrs. H. He can be heard on his 911 call, following Mrs. H. across the parking lot of the establishment, over into the next parking lot, calmly relaying to the dispatcher his and Mrs. H.’s appearances, a description of Mrs. H.’s vehicle, and the direction in which she was headed. The fact that he was and is a man was evident to the dispatcher, who repeatedly refers to him as “sir” on that call. No police report was filed.
“Planet Fitness is endangering women by allowing men to sexually harass them in the women’s facilities and punishing those who object,” said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. “This is discrimination based on sex, in violation of Florida law as well as several of Planet Fitness’ own policies. Liberty Counsel demands that Planet Fitness reinstate our client’s membership and adhere to the law and its own policies and protect the privacy of women. If this gym does not respect women’s legal and privacy rights, there are other gyms which will, and there are courts that will remedy this blatant disregard of women,” said Staver.
