In Gastonia, North Carolina, Planet Fitness’ “judgment free zone” had another breakdown in judgment when a man disrobed and walked into the women’s locker room buck naked, claiming he identified as a woman. He was arrested and booked.
The latest incident puts the awkward spotlight on Planet Fitness again.
In Fairbanks, Alaska an actual woman in the women’s locker room in March told a man to leave, took photographic evidence that he had invaded the women’s locker room, and showed it to the staff, asking for help to get the man out of the women’s changing area, where there was a young girl.
Patricia Silva soon found her own membership cancelled by the gym company because she violated Planet Fitness’ rules by taking the man’s picture. The man returned later and was photographed by another woman patron using the women’s locker room again.
In Gastonia, however, Christopher Allan Miller’s arrest on a felony charge came after a woman at the local Planet Fitness called 911 to report a naked man in the women’s locker room, reported WSOC-TV.
“It’s a man but he says he identifies as a woman, and he won’t leave the restroom,” the woman told the police dispatcher. “But he is just walking around showing us his — and he won’t leave.”
“And what’s he wearing?” the dispatcher asked.
“Nothing, literally nothing,” the caller responded.
“OK, so he is completely naked?” the dispatcher asked.
“He is completely naked,” the caller said.
“And is that man still there?” the dispatcher said.
“Yeah, he is still in the bathroom,” the caller said. “It’s a man but he says he identifies as a woman, and he won’t leave the restroom. But he is just walking around showing us his — and he won’t leave.”
Miller was arrested and booked on charges of indecent exposure to a minor.
“Without talking to Miller, there’s no way for Channel 9 to know whether Miller truly is transgender,” the station generously reported, but added that there was “no indication that Miller self-reported before this incident.”
That opens up a legal question about the meaning of self-reported gender identity and whether Miller will prevail in court.
Planet Fitness’ policy is that members may to use locker rooms based on their self-reported gender identity.
“A spokesperson for Planet Fitness told Channel 9 its employees took immediate action to ensure the safety of members and officials are working with law enforcement,” according to the report.
The enforcement of protected spaces for women appears to be all over the map — literally — for Planet Fitness.
In September, a 15-year-old girl was inside the women’s locker room of Planet Fitness in Monroe, Ga., when a naked male allegedly exposed himself to her, according to the Monroe Police Department. Jakorbie Dixon of Conyers, Ga., was then arrested on “multiple warrants for public indecency by exposing himself in the female locker room,” the police department said at the time.
But at the Fairbanks Planet Fitness franchise, women bear the brunt of the invasion of men into women’s locker rooms.
Silva told Must Read Alaska, “The event that occurred on March 11, one month ago at Planet Fitness in Fairbanks, Alaska, coincides with this situation that took place in North Carolina recently. Planet Fitness is allowing pedophiles off the streets to self-identify to gain access to the women’s locker rooms across the country and throughout the world where there’s a Planet Fitness.”
Silva said people need to step up and stand for decency.
“It is imperative that you as a citizen let your voices be heard now to stop this tyranny before our women’s and children’s lives are further endangered by this deranged cult,” Silva said. “Let me make myself clear: Not every transgender would make a decision to invade women’s space in the locker rooms. But those who do choose to go into a women’s public, private space are more than likely to be a sex offender or a pedophiliac.”
