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Original poster

Virgin Active changing rooms segregated by gender identity

289 replies

EdgeOfACoin · 10/09/2020 12:50

Okay, I know this has been mentioned on passing on another thread, but I think it needs its own discussion.

Virgin Active have said that their changing rooms are segregated by gender identity and not by biological sex:

mobile.twitter.com/VirginActiveUK/status/1303378847711272961

I'm a VA member. This is something I would be prepared to cancel my membership over. Are they seriously saying that any male may access women-only communal changing rooms, where there are no individual cubicles, where women routinely queue for showers, provided he says he identifies as a woman?

This isn't about toilets. This isn't about who is 'peeing next to you' in the next cubicle. This is about women having to agree to undress in the presence of male-bodied strangers if they wish to use the facilities.

How is this even remotely defensible?

(I like the Twitter replies though.)

OP posts:
EarthSight · 10/09/2020 14:43

@AlsoNotAGirl

interesting strategy when gym membership is down Hmm
Lol. True
highame · 10/09/2020 14:40

I'm suspecting that none of them are either listening to their legal departments, or they're ignoring them, or their legal departments are incompetent. Perhaps they all thing the law is irrelevant and that we are a Pick and Mix democracy.

Well, they wouldn't be on their own in thinking that, after all the EHRC thinks so

feelingverylazytoday · 10/09/2020 14:28

I noticed a certain spokesperson for mermaids misrepresenting the Equality act on there. It's just blatant lying now, isn't it.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 10/09/2020 14:10

The problem is that they have probably been told by someone who should know better that this is the law. One of the reasons why Ann Sinnotts case is so important.

WombOfOnesOwn · 10/09/2020 14:10

What in the world could possibly be the justification of segregating by gender ID? Is there some sort of risk posed by one gender ID to another? Is the purpose of changing rooms validation of gender ID rather than providing a safe place to change?

ArabellaScott · 10/09/2020 14:06

Well, that's a surprising ratio.

How long will it take for PR to catch up with the change in public mood, do you think? We've all been educating ourselves.

Original poster
EdgeOfACoin · 10/09/2020 13:49

I'm primarily with VA because of a discount I get with health insurance and proximity to workplace (although the advantage of the latter has been reduced due to COVID).

If I move from VA I lose the benefits I get through health insurance.

Therefore I either compromise on my principles and comfort or I take a financial hit. Neither option is appealing.

OP posts:
Tootletum · 10/09/2020 13:42

This has got to be a joke or misunderstanding of some sort. Surely they mean "with a GRC"??

AlsoNotAGirl · 10/09/2020 13:40

interesting strategy when gym membership is down Hmm

InsaneInTheViralMembrane · 10/09/2020 13:34

One of the reasons I use Bannatyne’s. Duncan has shown his hand. They also have a very strict “no cameras” policy of which I approve as I have no desire to go vital because some 25 year old thinks I’m hideous/hilarious.

Original poster
EdgeOfACoin · 10/09/2020 13:29

I think teenagers can use Virgin Active from the age of 14. (Last time I checked, anyway.)

OP posts:
Siameasy · 10/09/2020 13:18

And yes lots of children are members so this is absolutely sickening

Siameasy · 10/09/2020 13:15

I used to belong to one and the changing rooms were communal so this is very dodgy

AlbusSirius · 10/09/2020 13:05

I don't know if this thread has been linked anywhere:

mobile.twitter.com/zeno001/status/1303434952994938881

But it seems that Virgin haven't a fucking clue Confused

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