Virgin Active members – particularly female ones – are threatening to cancel their membership after the company revealed its “inclusive environment” would permit transgender gym goers to choose a change room that aligned with their “gender identity.”
The revelation was made after US gym Planet Fitness – not to be confused with the SA company – took the same stance, resulting in widespread backlash from the public.
VIRGIN ACTIVE TAKES STANCE WITH TRANSGENDER MEMBERS
The social media commentary kicked off on Friday, 19 April, when a South African X user questioned SA’s Planet Fitness gym on their policy surrounding transgender members.
This followed a video of a member from the US namesake claiming he was cancelling his membership after it permitted men to access female change rooms.
Last month, MailOnline reported that the US gym enforced a strict policy that trans members not only be allowed to choose their preferred change rooms, showers, and toilets but also be referred to by their “correct pronouns.”
X user @OupaAmpie tagged Planet Fitness South Africa about the video, who claimed they had no affiliation to the US company with the same name.
The tweep then asked Virgin Active to share their views.
Virgin Active – founded by British businessman Richard Branson – responded that they were taking a similar approach to the US company.
It said in a statement: “Virgin Active does not permit male members to access female-only spaces such as change rooms at any point.
“However, we are committed to fostering inclusive environments where all members feel valued and respected.
“We fully support members who have transitioned and updated their identification documents to align with their gender identity.
“As a result, access to the change room corresponding to their gender identity is allowed, in accordance with our principles of acceptance and dignity.”
Virgin Active could not provide additional information when pressed for clarity on what “fully transitioned” meant.
‘WOMEN ARE NOT SAFE’
Virgin Active’s stance was met with criticism from the public, who were concerned that female gym-goers would have to share spaces with trans males.
@Specpatator: “My wife is no longer safe in your change rooms! I will cancel our membership tomorrow.”
@Bound2Liberty: “Mental insanity. Ladies, please find another gym. Virgin Active is no longer safe for you!”
@tshidi3886: “There should be mass cancellation of Virgin Active memberships. This is nonsense.”
@angeltracey19: “Just because some deluded fellow gets his ID changed does not mean he’s a woman. It’s ridiculous how women and children are being abused by these fellows and the people who enable them.”
@lorettadans: “Women must cancel their memberships. NOT support all businesses that struggle to understand, appreciate, practise women having dignity & their own spaces.”
‘SHARED SPACES’
It’s not the first time Virgin Active has been threatened with a boycott.
In 2019, many female members – including media personality Anele Mdoda – cancelled their memberships after the gym withdrew their charges against a male member caught masturbating in full view of others at their branch in Stellenbosch.
According to the company, the man needed “psychological help” and not criminal charges.
Virgin Active spokesperson Carla White told TimesLive that the man was banned for life.
She added: “We are aware of the outcry surrounding the incident from various interest groups. Our clubs are shared spaces. We took action in accordance with our rules, which are in place to make our clubs safe places for training.
“We cannot control the behaviour of individuals, but we can take action when their behaviour contravenes our rules. Our sanctions are applied uniformly, regardless of age, race, or religion.”