Virgin Active changing rooms segregated by gender identity

[EdgeOfACoin]

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.)

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

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

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

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

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.

interesting strategy when gym membership is down

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

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

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

@AlsoNotAGirl

interesting strategy when gym membership is down

Lol. True

@feelingverylazytoday

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

yes I saw that - not sure why she thinks Virgin needs an apology for receiving some honest feedback from their customers on their policy. Companies need feedback or otherwise they have no idea why revenues suddenly drop.

Virgin Healthcare have asked for Gender on the school immunisation forms for children. Gah!

I was in a VA shower once in the female changing rooms. They had like semi transparent cubicles and I thought I saw the shadow of a man in there having a wank. It was terrifying. When I came out he had gone and I might have dreamt it but the shower was still running. They said they would have it on cctv... presumably now they wouldn’t check though.

At least VA is a private company - I work for the NHS and the organisation I work for is not far off this, even though the staff is about 85% female. I was recently asked in the equality and diversity monitoring form whether I was Trans and for my gender identity but I wasn't asked for my sex. It's bloody endemic.

@InsaneInTheViralMembrane

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.

No cameras- I should think so! I was wandering through the changing rooms after a shower and heard a man’s voice. I put my glasses on and saw some dingbat woman with FaceTiming a man with the phone propped up on the shelf so he had a lovely window into the showers and changing room.

The voice alone made me start - seeing his mug didn’t help.

Please tell me that this isn't happening.

I love my gym but ..... I've asked for clarification on this and if it's true, I won't be going back

Check with your gyms - it could well be a manager mistaking the law.

I saw this the other day. I will be cancelling mine and my 2 daughters' memberships if this is correct.

No way would I ever entertain the idea of going there if that was the case.

Personally I would never go, nor allow my children to go if this is the case. Unfortunately I think that with the way the world is headed this will be the norm.😳

@Queenoftheashes
Why is there CCTV in changing rooms in the first place?

I have emailed asking for clarification, and said I would cancel the membership we have had for 14 years if true.