Conservative social media users are calling for a boycott of Planet Fitness after a 2023 incident involving a man who allegedly exposed himself to a 15-year-old boy in a women’s locker room.
context
In September 2023, a 15-year-old girl claimed she was exposed to a naked biological male while she was in the women’s locker room at Planet Fitness in Monroe, Georgia, according to the Monroe Police Department. The department said in a statement that Jacoby Dixon, 25, of Conyers, was arrested on “multiple warrants for indecent exposure in a women’s locker room” in connection with the incident.
Shortly after Dixon’s arrest, the boy’s family filed a lawsuit against Planet Fitness over the incident, Bart Benton, an attorney representing the boy’s family, announced in a statement on September 15. Benton claims the fitness chain was aware of Dixon’s alleged lewd behavior. before exposing yourself to teenagers.
“We are committed to holding Planet Fitness accountable for its actions,” Benton said in a statement. “Our initial investigation revealed that Planet Fitness was aware of and aware of this type of conduct by the perpetrator, but did not allow a woman in the women’s locker room to ‘recognize’ the man as a woman. It became clear that he had chosen to ignore his previous act of exposing himself to. This type of behavior is completely unacceptable and we will fight for justice for our clients and ensure Planet Fitness takes steps to ensure this never happens again. ”
The gym chain had already been under fire for several days over a separate incident involving a man inside a women’s locker room in the presence of a child.
Planet Fitness came under intense scrutiny last week over its initial decision to cancel the membership of an Alaska customer who reported that a man shaved his beard in the women’s locker room while a 12-year-old girl was present. exposed. A Planet Fitness spokesperson told local media that the customer’s taking images of people inside the locker room violated the company’s mobile device policy and went against the gym’s “no judgment” rules. .
newsweek Monroe police, Benton and Planet Fitness were contacted for comment via email Sunday.
what we know
On Sunday, right-wing social media account Libs of TikTok posted on X (formerly Twitter) about the 2023 incident at Monroe Planet Fitness, sparking a new wave of anger and criticism of the company’s locker room and gender identity policies. caused it.
Planet Fitness says on its website that it champions diversity and provides an environment where “everyone feels accepted, respected and belongs.”
The website lists the fitness company’s nondiscrimination policy regarding gender identity and locker room facilities, which states in part, “Members and team members will be treated according to their self-declared gender identity.” There is. The policy also addresses locker room use, stating that staff and gym members “may use Planet Fitness locker room facilities and programs based on their self-reported gender identity. , bathrooms, showers and all other gender-separated facilities.”
The policy says Planet Fitness employees will be encouraged to address concerns with club members if “serious concerns or serious questions” arise about the identity of a transgender or non-binary person. Says. If concerns remain, staff may request “external evidence of the member’s claimed gender identity.” According to the fitness chain’s policy, gym members who “misrepresent their gender identity” may be asked to leave and have their membership revoked.
Don Emmert/AFP/Getty
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The topic “Boycott Planet Fitness” trended on X for hours on Sunday, with multiple social media users calling for a boycott of the gym chain.
A member of TikTok slammed Planet Fitness on X, writing, “This is not the first time Planet Fitness has been involved in a controversy like this. A man in Georgia exposed himself to a minor in the girls’ locker room. He reportedly did that.” “Before. They didn’t do anything because they recognized him as a woman. #BoycottPlanetFitness.”
The post received more than 8,700 likes and nearly 400 comments on Sunday.
In another post, the controversial X account said, “We allow men into the women’s locker room and if you complain about it, your membership will be suspended!”
“I don’t think it’s safe for women,” X owner Elon Musk wrote in a reply to the Libs thread on TikTok.
TammyLeeBlosser posted on X, “Anyone who cares about women’s safety and rights should cancel their membership! Wake up and go bankrupt.”
Despite growing calls for a boycott, some conservative social media users defended Planet Fitness.
Buck Lawson wrote to Men are literally excluded from women’s spaces, and in extreme cases the police may be called.”Toilets are clearly separated into men’s and women’s areas.
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