Virgin active is inclusive. Great

Sorry to be crude but also - a naked man, even if they feelz like a woman, still has a functioning penis.

And the type of male bodied person who feels entitled to use (and I mean USE) woman's facilities who also brag-tweets photos of themselves whilst doing it, often say that they are lesbian. One bathroom tweeter has even asked online for advice how they could approach girls (not women) to helpfully assist them with the use of their tampons (and commented on the lack of naked women in changing rooms). This is not really the type of person you would wish to encounter in a 'safe space'. Also remember that some gyms are open stupid hours and the night shift is scarce. So you could find yourself going for a work out after a late shift and find yourself in a situation where you felt unsafe - or in danger - and there not be many people around to help you (or at least make you feel more secure rather than being the only woman in a changing room 1+ males).

Remember the working penis? So this female appendage would be more under control than a male appendage? So there would be no danger at all of a woman or girl seeing an erection in the changing area should a male person of ill-intent choose to use the facility.

No, I really can't see any problem there.

howzaboutye head of tennis certainly a good place to start. Following the Bennell disaster, all sports (including tennis) had to adopt safeguarding policies in accordance with governing associations. Ask Head of Tennis how girls will be safeguarded in a mixed sex changing room / toilet scenario. When a girl sees a naked penis, while she too is naked. How does that fit with sports association safeguarding policy? Suggest a third space, for men, while they "sort it out".

I’d say it is time for the return of sticker woman

I would not like this at all. Most gyms don't have sufficient cubicles for everyone to use- even if so who wants to do the towel walk to the showers feeling uncomfortable?

I want to find out about my gym (council run leisure centre) but can't find anything on the website.

Would anyone mind suggesting a few pertinent words I can use when I email them?

My gym has posters around stating that we all need to show respect. It’s in a uni campus so I can guess what that means. I have yet to meet a penis in the women’s areas but if I do I will probably scream. I’m a bit old fashioned like that 🙄

Well virgin Atlantic have launched a transvestite cabin crew fight route. That must be interesting...

I think a lot of the clubs want to have their cake and eat it.

They will say in PR spin that they are inclusive. But in the legals they will say changing areas are single sex.

And only really deal with it when they have to

The parent group is asking a pertinent question:

^Equality and diversity have become buzzwords to be dropped into conversations and mentioned in meetings. But what would you like to see companies doing to address them? virg.in/UxM^

twitter.com/Virgin/status/1105264708280557570

Virgin is getting hammered on Twitter. Equality act being quoted at them etc.

I'm a Man Friday graduate, I asked my Virgin Active club last year what the deal was - my personal trainer emailed HQ but got a reply that no-one had asked them that before so they were going to think about it and come up with a policy.

I am seriously annoyed they've gone with bonkers "inclusivity" instead of the previous sensible policy of managing it on a case-by-case basis. Membership for me, DH and DS is £90 per month, plus crêche fees on top. I'd hate to cancel but will if a be-penised adult turns up in the female changing room.

Just reading those, wtf is this??

We reserve the right to use any individual or group photographs or movie shots of you for press or promotional purposes. However, where reasonably possible, we will ask you to sign a use of image rights form (a “Virgin Active photography reproduction authorisation form”) to consent to this usage.

Can they do that?

I want to ask my gym what their policy is, without being automatically labelled a bigot. Has anyone got suggestions for how to phrase the question? The gym is very young/cool with separate changing rooms (open plan no cubicles) and sauna etc clearly labelled Female and Male.

'Legal stuff' here

www.virginactive.co.uk/the-legal-stuff/club-rules

Under the Virgin Active club rules, it says

Junior members under the age of 8 may change in either sex changing room under adult supervision and in designated areas only. Junior members aged 8-15 years must change in designated areas in the changing room of their own sex.

That implies the changing rooms are segregated by sex, not gender. Worth checking.

Print off stickers which say "Women beware - these changing rooms have been made mixed-sex" and stick them all over the place.

Yet another example of how the 'little women' should just put up with it. Feminism is needed now more than ever.

I think these companies are working under the assumption that not many male people will use women's changing rooms, or that we somehow won't notice.

I don't know how else they can be so confident that they won't lose business.

Posie Parker made a good point on one of her videos in that in the drive to be INCLUSIVE to those people born male who want to present themselves as if they hadn't been, these places are EXCLUDING women and girls.

I am disappointed with Virgin, I used to use their gym in my pre child years and it was fab.

I would speak to every woman you meet in the gym & leave posters/stickers in the changing rooms.
Speak to the men too most understand instantly that there are men who will take advantage (even if they don’t all seem to understand that liking wearing a dress doesn’t mean you’ve changed sex )

Woman Wednesday with the chaps blindfolded & guided by women?

Talk to the other women in the gym about how they feel about the changing areas going mixed sex. And use the phrase mixed-sex - don't talk about trans at first.

I am sick of hearing "trans-inclusive" when what they mean in "mixed sex".

Perhaps everyone should do that.

If you cancel your membership without giving the required notice, if there is such a thing for your gym, and they get stroppy just argue that allowing men into women's changing areas constitutes a material change to the contract you signed. So they can STFU.

I'm surprised that companies are allowed to advertise having separate male and female changing areas, when they have nothing of the sort. I would have thought it would be in breach of trade descriptions.