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Original poster

Girls Spot Gym under attack for being women only

119 replies

fromorbit · 10/03/2025 17:55

A black woman Natalee Bennett who is setting up a woman only gym in SE London is being targeted because she has said the gym will not include men which legally she can do under the equality act. She had said 4 years ago "trans" males would be allowed to enter, but she has now changed her mind.

The Girls Spot operates as a female-only gym for biological women, tackling harassment, sexual assault & violence that women face inside the gym.

The tweet circling was made 4 years ago and I was in the very early stages of creating a concept.
https://x.com/nataleebfitness/status/1898805670339899593

She is now facing a massive swarm of misogynist and racist abuse against her including multiple death threats. The post about the gym being for women only now has 51 million views.

See some examples of the abuse:
x.com/babybeginner/status/1899060758664896691

I suspect the abuse will peak a lot of people and prove the need for the gym to exist. Interestingly I suspect a lot of it derives from the US.

If you are in South East London you can register your interest in the gym here
https://thegirlspotgym.com/

Article about the gym from a few weeks ago before the controversy broke:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-14355163/women-female-gyms-fitness-influencers-gymtimidation-rise.html

The US site Newsweek has picked up on the drama:

https://www.newsweek.com/gym-trans-women-ban-girls-spot-2042133

Of course it ignores the entirely different legal background in the UK.

https://x.com/nataleebfitness/status/1898805670339899593

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
Justme56 · 11/03/2025 08:38

PinkChaires · 11/03/2025 07:31

On tiktok alot of comments are saying that people with pcos could be mistaken as transgender. Not only is this highly offensive as someone with pcos, i dont believe that people with pcos do look like that? Are they saying it because of the excess facial hair? Words fail me honestly. Its the delusion that transwomen apparently dont look like they have an entirely different bone structure

Yes there seems to be a theme that whilst TW can only be sexed by looking in their pants, women can easily be mistaken for men by simply looking at a bit of hair on their face.

Lottapianos · 11/03/2025 08:25

'On tiktok alot of comments are saying that people with pcos could be mistaken as transgender'

It's pathetic, isn't it? We're all supposed to pretend that this is such a complex and delicate issue, and the only way to be sure what sex someone is is 'genital checks'. The truth is that it's blindingly obvious whether someone is male or female. Even tiny children can get it right. Almost nobody can ever 'pass' as the opposite sex

PinkChaires · 11/03/2025 07:31

On tiktok alot of comments are saying that people with pcos could be mistaken as transgender. Not only is this highly offensive as someone with pcos, i dont believe that people with pcos do look like that? Are they saying it because of the excess facial hair? Words fail me honestly. Its the delusion that transwomen apparently dont look like they have an entirely different bone structure

Original poster
fromorbit · 11/03/2025 07:20

Natalee has limited her account on X probably because of the level of abuse. Hopefully she is ok.

OP posts:
Maaate · 11/03/2025 07:18

FrippEnos · 10/03/2025 20:14

Only a strange thing to say if you haven't seen the videos.

Show quote history

Joey Swoll?

Original poster
fromorbit · 11/03/2025 00:37

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 10/03/2025 23:06

It does seem to have peaked a lot of people though. Particularly black women.

Operation let them Speak again.

Reduxx have a good summary:
Fitness Influencer Faces Abuse And Death Threats From Trans Activists After Pledging To Open Female-Only Gym In London
https://reduxx.info/fitness-influencer-faces-abuse-and-death-threats-from-trans-activists-after-pledging-to-open-female-only-gym-in-london/

Telegraph coverage includes more statements, but doesn't mention how extreme the abuse is:

Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns at human rights charity Sex Matters, told The Telegraph that Ms Barnett was “well within her legal rights” to admit only biological women to her gym.
“There are thousands of gyms in the country, almost all open to both sexes. It’s very telling that there is so much vitriol aimed at one woman running one small gym, just because she wants a male-free space,” Ms McAnena said.
“This type of situation is exactly what the single-sex exceptions on the Equality Act are for. The gym owner is well within her legal rights to state that The Girls Spot is only open to female members.”
In response to the criticism online, Ms Barnett issued a further statement stressing that her decision was made to ensure her customers felt “at ease”.
She said: “The decision to have The Girls Space as a single-sex gym for those biologically female was not an easy decision and something that I thought over for many years.
“I spent a great deal of time and money, including seeking legal advice, and it was absolutely not a choice made lightly or out of exclusion or malice, but rather out of my commitment to ensuring a space where women who have experienced trauma, harassment, or discomfort in co-ed gyms can feel at ease.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/10/natalee-barnett-gym-owner-trans-women-ban-girls-spot-uk/

Note there are fitness classes just for trans people running across the UK because they feel they need a space separate from other people. No one is trying to close them down or saying they are "cisphobic".
https://notaphase.org/projects/misfits/

Fitness Influencer Faces Abuse And Death Threats From Trans Activists After Pledging To Open Female-Only Gym In London - Reduxx

The owner of a soon-to-open women’s-only gym in London has faced backlash online after clarifying that the space will not be open to biological men who choose to identify as transgender, and instead prioritize the safety of biological women. Last month...

https://reduxx.info/fitness-influencer-faces-abuse-and-death-threats-from-trans-activists-after-pledging-to-open-female-only-gym-in-london

OP posts:
GargoylesofBeelzebub · 10/03/2025 23:06

It does seem to have peaked a lot of people though. Particularly black women.

maximalistmaximus · 10/03/2025 21:52

The attacks on Natalee are awful.

UnhappyAndYouKnowIt · 10/03/2025 21:18

Justme56 · 10/03/2025 19:54

Been watching this and there is the usual how are you going to police it ‘genital checks’ etc? It really is about crossing boundaries - setting a policy which people will intentionally try to break. I hope it all works out for her.

They say things like this as if it's such a "gotcha". Like the worst thing that could ever happen is to have to prove your biological sex.

If I really feel strongly that I want to join a female only service, I'm willing to go the extra mile to make sure it really is women only.

If the price for that is a DNA check, fine.

And honestly, if the only way they can screen is a genital check, and that's what it takes to make sure only biological females get memberships... OK. I have nothing to hide and everything to gain.

WandaSiri · 10/03/2025 21:09

QuiteAnnoyedToday · 10/03/2025 19:57

So I saw this unfold on X yesterday and today, and what pissed me off is that the initial pile-on came from "terf twitter" in response to what was a very joyful tweet about her new women-only gym opening.

One particular woman with a lot of reach on X dug up a "trans women are women" tweet by Natalee from four years ago and blasted it out to her followers, who then went onto Natalee's gym opening tweet with a fury and replied with all the usual. Not politely either. Really rude and aggressive and demanding.

Even though of course they're correct in principle, it was awful, bullying behaviour. A handful of women did jump in soon after asking questions like are you sure, maybe she changed her mind, wouldn't it be better to ask first before piling on, but were mostly ignored.

Then because of all that, Natalee released her statement about "that tweet from 2021" and how she's had a long think about it over the years and it's now a female-only gym. So then all the gender cultists piled on even harder and even more aggressively at her, even worse than the terf tweeters.

So now even though all she wanted to do was show off her excitement at her women's gym nearly being ready to open, she's got hundreds of people battling it out in her replies and giving her a load of grief.

The whole thing was terrible and I feel really bad for Natalee. It's put a spotlight onto her and her business, and not in a good way.

Some of the criticism Natalee got when people thought she had caved in to the TA lobby was definitely over the top.

The change of mind complicates things - some are saying that she accepted investment from people on the basis of the gym allowing men and then just carried on after she changed her mind. No idea whether there's any truth in that but it does explain some of the astounding vitriol from TAs if they believe it.

FrippEnos · 10/03/2025 20:48

WandaSiri · 10/03/2025 20:44

It is, but I expect you have no evidence.

Show quote history

I'm not sure what response you are expecting, but you have misunderstood what I have posted.

This is a you issue.

WandaSiri · 10/03/2025 20:44

FrippEnos · 10/03/2025 20:41

WandaSiri · Today 20:39

If you're claiming that intimidation or harassment is not an issue in gyms and that it's all fake, I'm not buying that.

Then its a good job that I am not saying that.

If you're claiming also that it's difficult or impossible to set up men's single sex gyms because of opposition from women, that's nonsense as well.There are plenty of men's gyms in London. New ones opening all the time.

That is not what I said either.

It is, but I expect you have no evidence.

FrippEnos · 10/03/2025 20:41

WandaSiri · Today 20:39

If you're claiming that intimidation or harassment is not an issue in gyms and that it's all fake, I'm not buying that.

Then its a good job that I am not saying that.

If you're claiming also that it's difficult or impossible to set up men's single sex gyms because of opposition from women, that's nonsense as well.There are plenty of men's gyms in London. New ones opening all the time.

That is not what I said either.

Codlingmoths · 10/03/2025 20:39

ItsFunToBeAVampire · 10/03/2025 18:16

I've been following this; the amount of abuse she's getting is insane, and the fact that a significant amount of it is coming from women is baffling.

This is what I thought. This poor woman has been absolutely copping it, and often from women with comments like ‘as a cis woman if there’s somewhere I feel unsafe it’s a place that excludes my sister trans women’ 🤢 Tell me you’re both privileged and very naive without telling me you’re both privileged and very naive

WandaSiri · 10/03/2025 20:39

FrippEnos · 10/03/2025 20:14

Only a strange thing to say if you haven't seen the videos.

Show quote history

If you're claiming that intimidation or harassment is not an issue in gyms and that it's all fake, I'm not buying that.

If you're claiming also that it's difficult or impossible to set up men's single sex gyms because of opposition from women, that's nonsense as well.There are plenty of men's gyms in London. New ones opening all the time.

socialdilemmawhattodo · 10/03/2025 20:23

InfoSecInTheCity · 10/03/2025 19:02

I used to go to Women's only swimming sessions, then they became 'all types of women' sessions, then they got cancelled altogether, now I rarely go because I get fed up of splashy, kicky, overly aggressive men taking over the lanes.

If there was a Female Only gym near me, I'd sign up in a flash.

Did you say anything at all ever to the provider about this? Because if not, how would they know why you stopped going? I quite strongly feel we all have a duty to stand up and be counted in this long fight for women's single sex space rights.

FrippEnos · 10/03/2025 20:14

WandaSiri · 10/03/2025 19:54

There are loads of men-only gyms in London. Bodyworks is one. Yelp even has a top 10.
How on earth do you know that women who complain of harassment are lying? What a strange thing to say.

Show quote history

Only a strange thing to say if you haven't seen the videos.

QuiteAnnoyedToday · 10/03/2025 19:57

So I saw this unfold on X yesterday and today, and what pissed me off is that the initial pile-on came from "terf twitter" in response to what was a very joyful tweet about her new women-only gym opening.

One particular woman with a lot of reach on X dug up a "trans women are women" tweet by Natalee from four years ago and blasted it out to her followers, who then went onto Natalee's gym opening tweet with a fury and replied with all the usual. Not politely either. Really rude and aggressive and demanding.

Even though of course they're correct in principle, it was awful, bullying behaviour. A handful of women did jump in soon after asking questions like are you sure, maybe she changed her mind, wouldn't it be better to ask first before piling on, but were mostly ignored.

Then because of all that, Natalee released her statement about "that tweet from 2021" and how she's had a long think about it over the years and it's now a female-only gym. So then all the gender cultists piled on even harder and even more aggressively at her, even worse than the terf tweeters.

So now even though all she wanted to do was show off her excitement at her women's gym nearly being ready to open, she's got hundreds of people battling it out in her replies and giving her a load of grief.

The whole thing was terrible and I feel really bad for Natalee. It's put a spotlight onto her and her business, and not in a good way.

arethereanyleftatall · 10/03/2025 19:56

I really really hope for her sake anyone close to this gym buys membership.

I'm so so bored of the trope 'only a few people are terfs.' Bullshit. Most people are.

WandaSiri · 10/03/2025 19:54

FrippEnos · 10/03/2025 19:14

Neither would I be against men-only spaces, provided they weren't funded or operated with any greater support or powers than our spaces, but I doubt they would be wanted or needed anyway.

There have been attempts at starting male only gyms but they have suffered similar abuse to the abuse that the woman in the article has suffered.
And I would say that the trend of filming and accusing men of harassment where none has taken place shows that single sex gyms are very much needed and wanted.

There are loads of men-only gyms in London. Bodyworks is one. Yelp even has a top 10.
How on earth do you know that women who complain of harassment are lying? What a strange thing to say.

Justme56 · 10/03/2025 19:54

Been watching this and there is the usual how are you going to police it ‘genital checks’ etc? It really is about crossing boundaries - setting a policy which people will intentionally try to break. I hope it all works out for her.

LittleBigHead · 10/03/2025 19:52

It is so so annoying to have single-sex spaces removed because of the garbage that "Transwomen are women."

There's nothing illegal about a single-sex space. Transwomen can set up their own gyms!

If I lived in her area, I'd join in a flash. I'm too old to get unwelcome attention at my gym, but it'd be great to train in a women-only space.

Fitzcarraldo353 · 10/03/2025 19:51

Does anyone know where in SE London this will be?

I used to go to a women only gym near Highbury and Islington and it was so lovely.

intheaviary · 10/03/2025 19:48

I came to see if there was one about this.

I 100% agree with her stance, although I think it is a shame she didn’t market it as a single-sex space since the beginning. It does again highlight the turning of the tide though (which I suspect is what the TRAs are so angry about). She’s only 25 and the abuse she is getting is absolutely vile.
Best of luck to her.

RadicalisedPastThePointOfSalvation · 10/03/2025 19:34

Also interesting that it’s a-ok to go after a young black female business owner. Intersectionality who?