A woman from New Hampshire claims that Planet Fitness revoked her membership after she raised concerns about seeing a man in the women’s locker room last month.
Judy Wolcott, a long-time member of the Concord, New Hampshire location, reported feeling unsafe after her encounter near the showers on April 11. “I was really shaken up, I think I was genuinely scared,” she recounted.
According to Wolcott, when she approached a young front desk worker about the incident, she was told that company policy prevented any action from being taken. She alleges that no staff member checked the locker room while she was present.
Four days later, she brought up her concerns again with another employee. Instead of listening to her, this person accused her of being “transphobic.” “She seemed somewhat concerned, but the moment I started mentioning that there was a guy in the girls’ shower, she quickly interrupted me. She said she understood me perfectly and complimented the ‘great woman’ in question,” Wolcott said.
The discussion quickly escalated, with Wolcott stating that the staff member repeatedly branded her as “transphobic” before she chose to leave the gym.
A few hours later, the gym manager called to inform her that her membership had been canceled due to a “policy violation.” When Wolcott asked for clarification on what policy she had breached, the manager didn’t provide a clear answer.
Later, while checking her account online, she discovered she had been charged for an extra month and found a cancellation request form dated April 15, which she claims was submitted without her consent. The form included a comment that read “promiscuous transgender,” which Wolcott alleged was written without her permission and suggested her signature had been forged.
On April 17, she returned to the gym to use her remaining membership. The manager reiterated that her access had been revoked, leading to a heated debate about whether she was entitled to a refund.
Wolcott claimed that the manager then called the police on her. When officers from the Concord Police Department arrived, she was advised not to enter the premises again.
“So she signed my name on those papers, took my money, extended my membership, and then called the police on me. I can’t believe this is happening,” Wolcott expressed.
A document labeled “Order to Stay on Premises,” which the police issued, confirmed that her ban from the Planet Fitness location occurred on April 17. Wolcott indicated she had previously emailed Planet Fitness headquarters regarding their transgender policies but had received no reply.
Wolcott plans to reach out to the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office to report what transpired and file a consumer complaint.
She feels compelled to share her experience, believing that the policies at Planet Fitness disadvantage women. “What does that mean for us? Are we just being set aside in the name of inclusivity?” she questioned.
Planet Fitness clarifies its position on its website, stating that members identifying as transgender are permitted to use facilities based on their self-reported gender identity. The company emphasizes its commitment to creating an inclusive gym environment that fosters a sense of belonging for all members.
Despite multiple attempts to get a response from Planet Fitness headquarters, there has been no comment on the matter.
