Florida AG fires off warning to gym after complaint about bikini-clad ‘man’ in women’s locker room

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has issued a warning to a high-end fitness club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, stating that they must change their bathroom policy or face prosecution under Governor Ron DeSantis’ “Let Kids Be Kids” law. The law aims to protect children from sexually explicit content and gender ideology.

The warning came after a complaint from a woman named Sonja Horton, who reported encountering a biological male in the women’s locker room at Life Time Fitness. According to Horton, she was in the sauna with a “man in a bikini,” and the front desk staff told her that “whatever you identify as, you can go wherever you want.”

Uthmeier emphasized that men do not belong in female restrooms and locker rooms in Florida under his watch. He stated, “Life Time has a choice: immediately change your policy so that your female patrons can stay active, free from fear and with their privacy intact, or we’ll meet you in court. And that goes for any Florida gym. In this state, we don’t sacrifice women’s rights to satisfy men’s delusions.”

Following the incident, Uthmeier sent a warning letter to Life Time Inc., highlighting that their policies harm and endanger women who use the facilities at the Palm Beach Gardens location. The gym argued that Palm Beach County code makes gender identity a protected class, but Uthmeier countered that the policy still violates Florida laws that safeguard women’s fundamental rights.

In response to Uthmeier’s warning letter, a Life Time official stated that the gym carefully reviewed the legal opinion and interpretation of the interplay between the Florida Civil Rights Act and the Palm Beach County ordinance. The official affirmed that Life Time would comply with Uthmeier’s legal opinion while remaining committed to welcoming all members at the Palm Beach Gardens club.

A spokesman for Governor DeSantis emphasized that safety and privacy are paramount in Florida, rejecting the notion that men can become women and supporting the privacy and safety of women’s private spaces, like locker rooms.

The situation underscores the ongoing debate surrounding gender identity and access to facilities based on sex. It remains to be seen how Life Time Fitness and other gyms in Florida will navigate this issue while balancing the rights and safety of all patrons.