Judge Not, Lest Ye Be Judged Out of the Judgment Free Zone
By: American Decency Staff
Reading the daily headlines, it sometimes seems as if we’ve entered an alternate universe. A universe where up is down and wrong is right. A universe where a gym named Planet Fitness allows confused men dressed in women’s clothing to shower and dress in designated women’s locker rooms. Quoting the Robot from the old TV series Lost in Space – something “Does Not Compute!”
Yet this is exactly what happened at a Planet Fitness location in Midland, Michigan. When Planet Fitness gym member Yvette Cormier found to her surprise that she was sharing the women’s locker room with a transgender man, she reported to the front desk that there was a man changing in the woman’s locker room.
I’m sure Cormier expected the gym to share her reasonable concern about a man undressing in the woman’s locker room. After all, last November a class-action lawsuit was filed against Planet Fitness after hidden cameras were discovered in the tanning bed facilities of two Illinois Planet Fitness locations. And last June a man was arrested after placing a camera in the women’s locker room of a Planet Fitness in Massachusetts. However, it seems Planet Fitness is more concerned about protecting the feelings of a miniscule minority than protecting the safety and security of their female clientele.
According to Cormier, she was told by the Planet Fitness employee that “whatever gender you feel you are, that's the locker room you're allowed to go in.” The only remedy the gym offered if she was uncomfortable was to wait until he was finished changing before she used the locker room.
Cormier called the corporate office to further voice her complaint and suggested installing a unisex locker room. However her concern fell on deaf ears. And when she warned other female gym members of the policy to allow cross-dressing men in the women’s locker room, Cormier was informed that she was in violation of the Planet Fitness “Judgment Free Zone” policy and her membership was revoked.
So what exactly is a “Judgment Free Zone?” As stated by Planet Fitness public relations director, McCall Gosselin: “Planet Fitness is committed to creating a non-intimidating, welcoming environment for our members. Our gender identity non-discrimination policy states that members and guests may use all gym facilities based on their sincere self-reported gender identity. …”
Non-intimidating? Yet how much more intimidating can it be for a woman to have to share a locker room with a man. Putting on lipstick and a dress does not change biology. However it can be a ticket for sexual predators to find easy access to women and girls.
As Family Research Council warns: “Unfortunately, this is the kind of topsy-turvy scenario that will be playing out in public restrooms, showers, and locker rooms across the country if more cities don't turn back this push to elevate sexual orientation and gender identity above personal privacy and public safety. You don't have to be a Christian or a conservative to understand the practical effects of these laws. "Tolerance" sounds like a great idea until your little girl is in the restroom with a grown man. By introducing gender politics into an environment like a gym, Planet Fitness is creating a culture ripe for abuse.”
For a “Judgment Free Zone,” Planet Fitness is remarkably judgmental of those who hold viewpoints with which they disagree. Last year 68-year-old Mike Amoroso was kicked out of a Florida Planet Fitness on two separate occasions for wearing a pro-life T-shirt. As LifeNews.com reported, when a fellow gym member was offended by the message of his shirt and complained to management, Amoroso was told to either change his shirt or leave. The message of the shirt read, “abortion kills a person.” Amoroso, thinking the problem was with the forthright statement on his shirt, came back on a later date wearing another pro-life shirt with a more generic message, “pray to end abortion.” Amoroso was again asked to leave the Planet Fitness facility.
Notice that in this case when a gym member complained, the one who was forced to leave was not the complainer, but the one wearing a pro-life T-shirt. Why didn’t the “judgment free zone” apply to this man who was being “judged” for holding a pro-life position? Planet Fitness will defend a man’s right to wear a dress and enter a woman’s locker room, but a man wearing a pro-life T-shirt is booted out the door.
As Yvette Cormier told a reporter after having her membership revoked, “I feel it’s kind of one-sided. I feel like I am the one who is being punished.”
Which is what we who hold to Biblical truth regarding life and sexuality can increasingly expect – punishment. As we remain silent when “non-discrimination” policies are put in place which discriminate against the Christian worldview, we will find ourselves unceremoniously shown the door.
To quote my favorite Robot again, “Danger, Will Robinson! America is not a “judgment free zone,” but we are in a danger zone – on the verge of losing our religious liberty and freedom of speech. It’s vital that we speak up as a voice of reason and truth while we still can.
Click here to send a message to Planet Fitness about their intolerant “judgment free zone.”
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