The Life Time Fitness in Ellisville, Missouri could be facing civil and criminal liabilities after it allegedly "adopted a policy" allowing transgender women into the female locker rooms, the state's attorney general announced last 2 August.
Missouri AG Andrew Bailey told the CEO of Life Time Fitness in a letter that while allowing biological males to enter whatever restroom they choose is popular in corporate policy books, he would not tolerate it under his jurisdiction.
"While it might be considered fashionable in certain corporate boardrooms to pretend that biology is irrelevant, the American heartland still lives in reality," he said. "Missourians recognize that allowing adult men to openly invade and disrobe in spaces set aside for women and young girls is indefensible and places political correctness above public safety."
The investigation followed an incident where a 52-year-old transgender named Eris Montano entered the women's locker room, to the outrage of all of Life Time's customers. Some of the staff even corrected customers, instructing them to use certain language when discussing the trans person.
Bailey said he was looking into criminal charges against them under various statutes after numerous constituents complained to his office, alleging "the gym has actively allowed a biological male to use women and girls' private spaces."
The Missouri AG cited a statute of "Trespass in the first degree," arguing that he had previously established a precedent that a biological male entering a female-only space was a violation of the law.
The Life Time gym's "policies are enabling potentially criminal behavior, and I am writing to assure you that it will not continue on my watch," the AG warned. "If you insist on endangering women and young girls in our state, in open defiance of the law, be assured you will face the consequences."
UPDATE: The Life Time Fitness in Ellisville, Missouri says they have revoked the membership of the transgender at the center of a criminal investigation.