Gym

[CaraMC]

Hi all,

 

I am lucky to go to a very nice gym, however, I am transitioning MtF, I wanted to buy gym clothes and go to the female toilets to change and I did see advice of this online...

 

I did e-mail the manager and he said he would need to get back to me, I would feel ashamed using the disabled toilet and there is no locker in the toilet either...

 

Have you guys experienced this?

 

Cara xxx 

[Carolyn Marie]

Gym rules vary widely, even within the U.S.  I would check with whatever gym you're planning to use to see what their rules, as well as what the U.K. laws are for public spaces like that.  In California the law says a gym can't discriminate, but that doesn't mean it can't happen anyway.

 

I just started using a gym, and have no qualms about using the women's restroom, but I will not use the locker room to change or shower.  Being legal does not always = being smart.

 

Carolyn Marie

[Astrid]

This is a sore point for me as well, as a non-binary person.  I've had no luck finding a gym north of Boston with private changing areas available.  I'd happily pay more for something like that.  Sigh.

 

Astrid

[Kirsten]

Astrid, its law in mass that you have to be allowed to use whichever locker/restroom you identify with. You can always change at home as well.

But this is the reason I’m a Beachbody girl and coach. No eyes watching me. And it’s reasonably priced. Nobody at home gives me an issue when I work out and I get the same results as I did from a gym. Better actually. 

[DawnD]

On 5/21/2019 at 12:40 PM, Carolyn Marie said:

Gym rules vary widely, even within the U.S.  I would check with whatever gym you're planning to use to see what their rules, as well as what the U.K. laws are for public spaces like that.  In California the law says a gym can't discriminate, but that doesn't mean it can't happen anyway.

 

I just started using a gym, and have no qualms about using the women's restroom, but I will not use the locker room to change or shower.  Being legal does not always = being smart.

 

Carolyn Marie

I couldn't agree more just because you can doesn't mean you should. I totally see both sides of the issue, bathrooms are one thing get in, get out who cares. But locker rooms are a part of the debate too that is not looked at. It's a place where you are pretty much exposing yourself to everyone in the room. When I do end up transitioning and have a vagina that's one thing. But until that point, I ask myself would I want someone else with a penis getting naked in the same room as my daughter, my mom, my niece, etc. I have to say no, and why would I want to do that to someone else. Yeah it sucks, but we are transitioning to the opposite gender. Thats what a transition is, we are on a journey but not there yet.

 

Btw, there are places with private family locker rooms as a work around. My local YMCA is one.

[Jackie C.]

That's where I am too. The only time I play dress-up as a guy is when I go to the gym. I'm using the rule where if I have to make someone uncomfortable, it isn't going to be the more persecuted group.

 

I expect it will be another story once I've completed GCS, but for now I just need to get in, get out and deal with feeling like a frog on the highway.

 

Whee.

[Charlize]

Welcome Jackie.  You may want to post in the introduction forum as well.

Funny as i read this thread i have to go way back to high school to visualize gym facilities.  My son goes to the gym to pump iron.  I simply go outside and do farm work.  I sometimes claim that i'm pumping cellulose.

As my wife and i camped across the country i was pleased to find every campsite's ladies room had individual stalls to use in dressing and showering.  

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[tracy_j]

I never visit the gym so have not really come across it but there are one or two swimming pools I have visited on holiday where there has been unisex changing. The showers were communal mixed  (obviously no naked showering) with cubicles for changing. I must say that this is the ideal situation to find (in my opinion), which no-one there was worried about. At the time I was presenting male, and admit it was momentarily disconcerting (if that's the right word) when a late teens girl in a bikini showered beside me.

 

My approach would be to ask a girl / woman friend who uses the facillities about them to get an idea as to whether there would be problems. Recourse to the law is not really a good option as it can be quite complex in this area as for some things (eg toilet use) nothing specific applies (at least nationally), and may raise backs for little gain and possible big loss.