ForgottenWoman

Not Shying Away From This One

In this political and cultural environment, it’s pretty dangerous for a blogger to write about what we are looking at today – especially when we most often focus on very different things and would love to grow our audience instead of lose readers.

But in order to actually make any sort of difference, sometimes we have to swallow hard, ask for courage and write it! This morning, I’m doing so because my daughter brought something to my attention that I had no awareness of – and I’m certain many of you are in the dark as well. If you are already aware, then I ask you to consider making your voice heard and loudly! Often, it isn’t that your perspectives are in the minority – it’s simply that others are louder, maybe braver, and definitely more passionate. Remember that, as someone once or twice – or many someones have repeated, “All it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing!”

So, are you aware that there is a longstanding controversy surrounding Planet Fitness that is rooted in their inclusion policies? Are you aware that this has been going on since 2015 at least – escalated in 2024 and then was forgotten and surged again this past week? Are you aware that Planet Fitness is not suffering due to their policies and responses to issues, but actually growing in popularity and financial gain? Why should you and I care? Why should we speak up and share? Why should we find ways to insure that there are consequences for their actions? Let me share a few tidbits and then you can decide if this is something that you should ignore, or something that we all should respond to. It’s probably pretty clear where I personally stand.

According to widespread news reports: There was a 2015 Planet Fitness controversy that involved member Yvette Cormier, whose membership was revoked after she complained about a transgender woman using the women’s locker room in a Michigan gym, sparking debate over the company’s “Judgment Free Zone” policy allowing access based on gender identity, leading to backlash and attention to transgender rights and gym policies. Planet Fitness defended its action, stating Cormier’s “inappropriate” manner of complaining, not the complaint itself. Her membership was canceled by PF. Cormier says that she felt unsafe and concerned about privacy, believing the gym should protect women from biological males in intimate spaces.  Planet Fitness responded that they uphold their policy as part of their “Judgment Free Zone,” allowing transgender individuals to use facilities aligning with their gender identity. Notice that she lost her membership simply for expressing her concern for her safety, while the male being in the locker room was supported by the gym.

In March 2024, member Patricia Silva encountered a person she believed to be a “man with a penis” shaving in the women’s locker room and took a photo, which she posted on social media.  She stated that there was also a child in the locker room at the time, and she was very concerned! Planet Fitness terminated Silva’s membership, citing a violation of its explicit policy against using mobile devices to take pictures or videos of individuals in the locker room. While they stated her picture taking as the reason for her membership cancellation, the company reiterated its long-standing, decade-old policy that allows members and guests to use facilities based on their sincere, self-reported gender identity. This article is not about whether she should have taken the photo, but if you dig deeper, she could have voiced her complaint without proof and would have been silenced for lacking evidence. Also, whether she should have posted it on social media or not is another discussion – but considering Planet Fitness’s response to earlier complaints, she may have felt it was the only way to inform people and prove that she wasn’t making up a story. For a short period of time, her posting of the incident worked. People were disturbed, were discussing the issues, and were calling for a boycott of the gyms. The result was that their market value dropped.

However, as is often the case, PF hired new leadership and focused on improving equipment at the gym while quietly continuing their policy of “inclusion” and is now profiting well. Quite honestly, this is probably because many of us had no idea how deeply their policies affect women and children. And those who are aware have remained quiet.

Now, it’s a new year and a new controversy – but if you’ve followed the trend, it shouldn’t be a shock. On January 5, 2026 A young woman shared a video where she caught a man who identifies as trans in the middle of a disgusting act in the women’s locker room at Planet Fitness. Now the confrontation involving the staff and her boyfriend has gone viral. The reports all tell us that PF once again defended the male in the female locker room and that the woman who caught him in the act was infringing on HIS RIGHTS.

Have you heard enough yet? Is your blood boiling yet? If not, why not? It is apparent that Planet Fitness intends to continue to defend policies that harm females in their determination to support those who are truly violating the privacy of women and children!

I’m not usually a social media warrior for cultural or political controversy, but I am certainly ready to encourage everyone that I can to do what we can to ensure that Planet Fitness faces consequences for these policies that not only endanger women but also punish anyone for speaking up on the matter. What can we do?

*Share the facts! Share this blog post if you can!

*Don’t remain silent! Talk about the information I’ve shared and research for yourself.

*If Planet Fitness is your gym, cancel your membership and find a new gym!

*Grow some courage and get loud – be kind, of course, but get loud!