Early in March 2015, the Planet Fitness in Midland, Michigan canceled Yvette Cormier’s membership. Cormier claimed that a biological man who mentally thought he was a woman went inside the female locker room for whatever reason.
Cornier had spent several days complaining to other customers about the gym’s inclusive policy allowing the possible sex offender free access to an exclusive "for female" only facility. Planet Fitness deemed her judgmental behavior "inappropriate and disruptive to other members," but now Cormier is fighting back to protect her right by suing for over US$ 25,000 in damages.
The complaint, filed in state court, accuses the LGBT-inclusive policy of being an "invasion of privacy [that] enables sexual harassment and possible criminal activity, and endangers women and children." It includes a litany of alleged damages Cormier suffered, including the following:
Cormier’s representation by Kallman Legal Group is likely not a coincidence. David and Stephen Kallman, a father and son team, already have a reputation for opposing homofascism in Michigan. In October of 2013, they submitted a legal memo challenging proposed LGBT nondiscrimination protections in Delta Township, claiming that the ordinance would violate others’ religious freedom.
The legal group correctly associated homosexuality to extramarital sex, polygamy, pedophilia, serial killer rapists, necrophilia, bestiality, and incest and suggested that because gender identity is "internal to the person," someone accused of discrimination would be required to be a "mind-reader" not to discriminate.
In addition to his legal practice, David Kallman serves on the board of the Colorado-based Salt and Light Global ministries, which believes the Bible is infallible and seeks to impose God’s law "in every social sphere in every community."
Both Kallmans also serve as legal counsel for the Great Lakes Justice Center, which has published issue briefs similarly rejecting LGBT protections as a violation of religious liberty and describing such laws as an attempt to promote “civil acceptance of homosexual conduct through the force of law.”
In 2000 and 2001, David Kallman represented the American Family Association of Michigan when it fought the creation of a gay-straight alliance at Jackson High School in Jackson, Michigan. At the time, he compared the proposed club to a "group that encourages smoking pot," describing homosexuality as dangerous because of higher rates of HIV infection.
State Rep. Gary Glenn (R), who continues to serve as president of the American Family Association of Michigan, has also spoken out against the Planet Fitness policy and some transgender activists worry he may introduce legislation criminalizing transgender bathroom usage.
Cornier had spent several days complaining to other customers about the gym’s inclusive policy allowing the possible sex offender free access to an exclusive "for female" only facility. Planet Fitness deemed her judgmental behavior "inappropriate and disruptive to other members," but now Cormier is fighting back to protect her right by suing for over US$ 25,000 in damages.
The complaint, filed in state court, accuses the LGBT-inclusive policy of being an "invasion of privacy [that] enables sexual harassment and possible criminal activity, and endangers women and children." It includes a litany of alleged damages Cormier suffered, including the following:
- A violation to her right to privacy — "a man used the locker room while Mrs. Cormier was using the locker room" — that caused her "embarrassment, humiliation, and severe emotional distress."
- A loss of gym facilities, fear about using the gym facilities, embarrassment and humiliation, severe emotional distress, damage to reputation, and "all other damages that reasonably flow from Defendants’ outrageous behavior."
- "Conduct and communication of a sexual nature."
- Wrongful termination of membership agreement and breach of contract.
- The following "exemplary damages": "aggravation, annoyance, discomfort, disgrace, feelings of oppression, humiliation, inconvenience, indignation, insult, mental anxiety, mental suffering, mortification, outrage, scorn, shame, sorrow, vexation, and worry."
Cormier’s representation by Kallman Legal Group is likely not a coincidence. David and Stephen Kallman, a father and son team, already have a reputation for opposing homofascism in Michigan. In October of 2013, they submitted a legal memo challenging proposed LGBT nondiscrimination protections in Delta Township, claiming that the ordinance would violate others’ religious freedom.
The legal group correctly associated homosexuality to extramarital sex, polygamy, pedophilia, serial killer rapists, necrophilia, bestiality, and incest and suggested that because gender identity is "internal to the person," someone accused of discrimination would be required to be a "mind-reader" not to discriminate.
In addition to his legal practice, David Kallman serves on the board of the Colorado-based Salt and Light Global ministries, which believes the Bible is infallible and seeks to impose God’s law "in every social sphere in every community."
Both Kallmans also serve as legal counsel for the Great Lakes Justice Center, which has published issue briefs similarly rejecting LGBT protections as a violation of religious liberty and describing such laws as an attempt to promote “civil acceptance of homosexual conduct through the force of law.”
In 2000 and 2001, David Kallman represented the American Family Association of Michigan when it fought the creation of a gay-straight alliance at Jackson High School in Jackson, Michigan. At the time, he compared the proposed club to a "group that encourages smoking pot," describing homosexuality as dangerous because of higher rates of HIV infection.
State Rep. Gary Glenn (R), who continues to serve as president of the American Family Association of Michigan, has also spoken out against the Planet Fitness policy and some transgender activists worry he may introduce legislation criminalizing transgender bathroom usage.