Transgender ‘Woman’ Tries to Join Female Gym. Then This Happens.

On Monday, in Wellington, New Zealand, a transgender woman who hasn’t had the gynecological surgery to look like a woman was turned away from a women’s gym he wanted to join. . .

Mansell told the NZ Herald, “I talked to a lady there who launched straight into questions. She said, ‘I’m sorry, I’m gonna have to ask you if you are transgender.’ I thought that was inappropriate. She said it was the company’s policy that transgender people are medically authenticated.”

Mansell wrote on Facebook, “ONLY allowed in (for free tour) AFTER I GET THE OP!! I’ll just wait 60+ years then…?” Mansell claimed he “was told ‘it’s company policy that all trans people have a medical confirmed srs (sex reassignment) op before being allowed in the GYM.’” . . .

Mansell complained that his birth certificate should have been enough, as it reflected his choice of gender. . .

Cherie Cooper, area manager for Revive Fitness, stated:

We would firstly like to apologize for any harm our current policy has caused. The policy has been in place for a long time, but we acknowledge that this is no defense, and however unintentional it may have been we accept that it may be hurtful to those who are excluded by it. We know that this is a sensitive matter, and to that end as a business we are urgently reaching out to organizations within the Wellington GLBTI community for guidance and advice to review our policy and ensure that our gyms are a safe and comfortable environment, and an inclusive and understanding community for all women.

(Read more from “Transgender ‘Woman’ Tries to Join Female Gym. Then This Happens.” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.