COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A transgender woman’s use of the women’s locker room at a suburban St. Louis gym has sparked an protest, a boycott plan and calls for a state investigation. politically vulnerable Republican Attorney General, who quickly responded.
The woman joined the gym on Sunday, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
On Friday morning, a Republican state lawmaker held a news conference outside the gym and protesters gathered to criticize the gym, according to the newspaper.
“I’ve been contacted by a lot of people,” Rep. Justin Sparks told The Associated Press on Friday. He held the press conference, but said he did not organize the protesters. Sparks represents a residential district neighboring the gym.
Life Time spokeswoman Natalie Bushaw said the woman showed employees a copy of her driver’s license, which identified her as a woman.
AP’s requests for comment via Facebook to the gym member were not immediately returned Friday. She told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that a woman approached her in the sauna on Monday and told her she was a man and that she didn’t belong there.
“The Missouri Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex,” Bushaw said in a statement. “Therefore, the member must use the Life Time women’s locker room.”
Ellisville Police Capt. Andy Vaughn said the agency received a report Friday of alleged indecent exposure at the gym that is being investigated. No charges were filed.
Also on Friday, Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced he is investigating the gym and sent a letter warning Life Time that its policies “are enabling potentially criminal behavior.”
“As Attorney General, I will vigorously defend and enforce Missouri laws,” Bailey wrote. “You face possible criminal and civil liabilities.”
Missouri has not enacted a law mandating transgender people’s access to public restrooms, and the state’s attorney general has limited authority to bring criminal charges. This is typically left to local prosecutors.
Bailey cited a 2015 Missouri appellate court decision against a man convicted of a misdemeanor for breaking into a women’s restroom at a gas station.
In this case, the man hid in the women’s restroom at a gas station and smoked cigarettes for several hours. He did not claim to be female or transgender, but tried to disguise his voice when employees asked him to stop smoking.
The workers called the police, who arrived and asked the man why he was in the women’s bathroom.
“The appellant responded that he had to defecate ‘very badly,’” according to the decision. He was carrying lotion and a pornographic magazine.
Ellisville police said the agency is not investigating possible trespassing because the private gym gave the member permission to use the women’s locker room. It is unclear whether a property owner can be prosecuted under Missouri law for allowing trespass on their property.
Voters will decide Tuesday whether to elect Bailey, who was appointed by Gov. Mike Parson, to another term or nominate Will Scharf as the Republican candidate. Scharf is a member of former President Donald Trump’s legal team.
In the GOP-dominated state, the winner of the primary has a huge advantage in the November general election.
