Florida officials threatened private gyms to ensure transgender members could use facilities that cater to their gender identity. However, state laws that restrict bathrooms and restrict changes to access to facilities do not apply to private companies.
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Nevertheless, Florida Attorney General James Usmier, who was appointed Governor Ron DeSantis this year, wrote “I’ve sent a letter to Lifetime Fitness, threatening to investigate businesses by allowing men who pose women to enter and use women’s locker rooms.
“This policy clearly harms and puts women in danger when using private facilities at Palm Beach Gardens,” the Republican wrote.
The letter sent to Jim on May 12th does not cite state law. At one point Jim cited Palm Beach County Human Rights Ordinance It includes gender identity as a protected characteristic, and Uthmeier claims it does not apply as it excludes language regarding bathroom restrictions.
DeSantis in 2023 signed the bathroom bill, part of a targeted “slate of hatred” LGBTQ+Floridians, especially transgender people. But the bathroom law only applied to changes in public property facilities, such as schools, prisons and, more recently, for the first time, Florida Capitol.
American Civil Liberties Union in Floridathe law’s own explanator emphasizes that “it will not be covered unless private companies, organizations, or religious institutions operate within state-owned buildings.”
Nevertheless, Uthmeier threatened to investigate private businesses. In the video posted above Social Media On May 12th, Uthmeier refers to another law. “Instead of following Florida’s civil rights law, they decided to put men in women’s locker rooms,” he said. “That’s wrong, and we’re not going to support it. Let’s be clear: Florida law protects designated spaces for women.”
But that is not true either. Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992 It prohibits discrimination “due to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, national origin, age, handicap, or marriage status situation” and “seeks the nation to protect its interest in individual dignity.” However, it does not even mention bathroom use, facility changes, or gender identity.
But the state has protection against discrimination Based on gender identity As a result of the 2021 interpretation by state agencies enforcing civil rights laws, regarding housing, employment, or public accommodation.
Uthmeier doesn’t cite Florida law, but it provides several news reports on the report as anecdotal evidence that allowing trans people in women’s bathrooms can harm young girls. These include reports of Oklahoma Transgender Girl He did not mention Nex Benedict, a trans student who was beaten in the bathroom at school, but was beaten in the bathroom of a girl from the same state. Benedict died later, and the coroner’s report ruled the death of the young man as a suicide, but was skeptical of the conclusion.
He also refers to a Virginia Transgender Sex Offender A California trans woman not only was arrested after exposing her genitals to women in locker rooms at multiple recreation centers, but was also found guilty of assaulting a 10-year-old girl in Denny’s toilet when the assailant was 17 years old.
Ultimately, Lifetime Fitness seems to have fallen under Usmeyer’s pressure anyway. The owner told the radio station wjno After receiving Uthmeier’s letter, the Palm Beach Gardens facility will “continue to make a commitment to welcoming all members” while adhering to the interpretation of the law.
Source: Advocate.com – www.advocate.com
