Search Here

American fitness chain Planet Fitness is now facing a major drop in its stock price following controversy over its transgender locker room policy.

The company's stock plummeted after an Alaska gym revoked a woman's membership for taking a photo of a transgender individual in the women's locker room, according to a DailyMail report.

Woman's Planet Fitness Gym Membership Revoked Over Transgender Locker Room Policy

The incident, which occurred at a Planet Fitness gym in Alaska, involved Patricia Silva encountering a man she identified as shaving in the women's locker room.

Silva, in a video posted on social media, expressed her discomfort and stated that she also observed a young girl present, adding to her concerns. "I was offended, I took a picture of him," Silva said.

After complaining to gym management and sharing her experience online, Silva's membership was revoked for violating the gym's policy against photographing other members.

Planet Fitness Upholds Transgender Locker Room Policy

Planet Fitness has defended its policy, stating that members and guests can use facilities that align with their self-reported gender identity. However, the company emphasized that bad faith use of the policy may result in termination of membership.

This incident is not the first time Planet Fitness has faced criticism over its transgender locker room policy. In 2015, a similar controversy arose when a Michigan woman sued the company after her membership was terminated for complaining about a transgender woman in the locker room.

Critics of Planet Fitness have seized upon this latest incident, with some calling for a boycott of the chain. Conservative voices on social media platforms have accused the company of prioritizing political correctness over the safety and comfort of its female members.

The controversy has gained traction online, with hashtags like #BoycottPlanetFitness now trending on social media. Even prominent figures like Elon Musk have weighed in on the controversy, describing Planet Fitness as "creepy."

Despite the company's attempts to clarify its stance on gender identity and create an inclusive environment, the backlash shows no signs of waning. The company's stock valuation has dropped by $400 million in just a few days.

In response to inquiries about the incident, McCall Gosselin, Planet Fitness's chief corporate affairs officer, reiterated the company's commitment to creating an inclusive environment.

"As the home of the Judgement Free Zone, Planet Fitness is committed to creating an inclusive environment," Gosselin said in the statement to Fox Business.

However, he emphasized that the termination of Silva's membership was due to a violation of the gym's mobile device policy rather than her objections to the transgender individual in the locker room.