Women-only spa’s ‘no male genitals’ rule ignites transgender debate

[taco.vidal]

http://www.citynews.ca/2017/06/14/wo...gender-debate/

TORONTO — Controversy over a female-only spa's "no male genitals" policy has reignited debate over the rights of transgender people to access traditionally gender-exclusive spaces, even as the federal government pushes stronger protections prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression.

The uproar over Toronto's Body Blitz Spa prompted a flurry of complaints on social media, with longtime regular Shelley Marshall among those vowing to boycott the luxurious retreat.

Marshall says she tried to bring her transgender friend to the spa last year but was told she would only be welcome at the bathing suit-optional facility if she had undergone sex reassignment surgery.

"I didn't want to embarrass my friend, I didn't want to humiliate my friend, I didn't want all this to happen," Marshall says of not speaking out at the time. "I'm embarrassed I never stuck up for my friend."

Toronto-based LGBTQ author Jia Qing Wilson-Yang tweeted last week that she was told not to visit the spa because they "won't allow male genitalia."

That followed a Facebook post by Weronika Jane who says the spa's manager called a friend one hour before their booking "to say that they couldn't come because they had a 'no male genital rule.'"

Body Blitz refused to comment on the issue, but released a statement insisting it supports the LGBTQ community.

"However, because Body Blitz Spa is a single-sex facility with full nudity, we are not like other facilities. We recognize that this is an important discussion for single-sex facilities to have and we will seek to find a satisfactory resolution," reads the statement.

At the national fitness chain GoodLife, members are able to use the change room of the gender they identify with, while various YMCAs across the continent have opened gender-neutral change rooms.

The article raises some good points if you read it in its entirety. This event has stirred up a lot of debate.

There used to be men only facilities. Women fought to get into them. Then women didnt want co-ed facilities and got women only gyms and clubs. Now transgendered person want into the women only facilities and the women say no. Whats going on?

Are we soon to see the end of gender-based bathrooms and change rooms? How about anything thats divided by gender currently?

[Hockeyguy15]

Balls in your court Toewsfan.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

Balls in your court Toewsfan.

Nice pun!

[ToewsFan]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

Balls in your court Toewsfan.

[Ducay]

Faaak - 13 year old me wishes he could use the change room or spa of his choice. Dang, could have seen boobies galore

[OMG!WTF!]

I was thinking while reading this, I can't imagine a pre op trans woman would have an issue with this. I get it. Your genitals do make a difference here. And it turns out, it's the transgender woman's friend who has the issue. Anyway, one door closes, maybe another one opens.

[Bill Bumface]

The Euro model of change rooms is pretty awesome. Shared lockers, which is great for families, the individual changing booths if you want them. If you realize no one is getting any thrills from your Johnson, you can gear down where you stand. No one gives a crap and life seems easier.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

The Euro model of change rooms is pretty awesome. Shared lockers, which is great for families, the individual changing booths if you want them. If you realize no one is getting any thrills from your Johnson, you can gear down where you stand. No one gives a crap and life seems easier.

I doubt Canadians will be that liberal anytime soon. Especially as a nation of immigrants, where the great majority of newcomers are from more conservative - in some cases much more conservative - cultures.

And in Europe much of the liberal attitude towards nudity has been dialled back owing to cell phone cameras and culture clashes with conservative immigrants. Topless sunbathing at public parks, which used to be common in Northern European cities, is no longer a thing.

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

I doubt Canadians will be that liberal anytime soon. Especially as a nation of immigrants, where the great majority of newcomers are from more conservative - in some cases much more conservative - cultures.

And in Europe much of the liberal attitude towards nudity has been dialled back owing to cell phone cameras and culture clashes with conservative immigrants. Topless sunbathing at public parks, which used to be common in Northern European cities, is no longer a thing.

You should go to the new Y in quarry park.

[AltaGuy]

Blame the immigrants! Wait, I disapprove of these liberal attitudes. Those immigrants are also mighty convenient!

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by ToewsFan

You're a weird person.

First you go on about how hurt you are and blah blah blah, now you throw up pennywise. If you're gonna troll pick 1 shtick and stick with it.

[ToewsFan]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

You're a weird person.

First you go on about how hurt you are and blah blah blah, now you throw up pennywise. If you're gonna troll pick 1 shtick and stick with it.

And it certainly says a lot about you to not comment, and troll me. You're just a bully so I deleted my initial response figuring your intention was to inflict hurt. Do you treat co-workers or family like this as well? Your mother must be proud.

Good day, sir.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by ToewsFan

And it certainly says a lot about you to not comment, and troll me. You're just a bully so I deleted my initial response figuring your intention was to inflict hurt and duress. You're a lousy human being, and I will no longer interact with you.

Good day, sir.

So I chose not to interact with you because you were trolling, and that makes me a lousy human.

Now you are choosing not to interact with me because you think I'm trolling. Does that make you a lousy human as well?

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by ToewsFan

And it certainly says a lot about you to not comment, and troll me. You're just a bully so I deleted my initial response figuring your intention was to inflict hurt. Do you treat co-workers or family like this as well? Your mother must be proud.

Good day, sir.

It's really hard to pin down what you're actually trying to say when you keep changing your posts.

Do I treat other people like what? I made a joke about starting another thread, you went for the "poor me" shtick and then changed your mind and decided to embrace the troll, I called you on it, you went back to the "poor me" shtick.

Perhaps we can find a mens group to join? I can work on my jokes, and you can find yourself and pick which persona to use?

[ToewsFan]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

It's really hard to pin down what you're actually trying to say when you keep changing your posts.

Do I treat other people like what? I made a joke about starting another thread, you went for the "poor me" shtick and then changed your mind and decided to embrace the troll, I called you on it, you went back to the "poor me" shtick.

Perhaps we can find a mens group to join? I can work on my jokes, and you can find yourself and pick which persona to use?

Brave man you are sir. Picking a fight over an internet message forum, and then mocking me for using the services of a Men's Resource Centre at one point in my life? I may be weird, but at least I don't intentionally hurt people behind an anonymous internet handle.

Grow up.

[GGG]

In thread about people having issues with someone's male genitailia we have two posters trying to prove who has the biggest male genitailia and who is the biggest male genitailia

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by ToewsFan

Brave man you are sir. Picking a fight over an internet message forum, and then mocking me for using the services of a Men's Resource Centre at one point in my life? I may be weird, but at least I don't intentionally hurt people behind an anonymous internet handle.

Grow up.

Hey we have something in common! Who knew?

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by GGG

In thread about people having issues with someone's male genitailia we have two posters trying to prove who has the biggest male genitailia and who is the biggest male genitailia

So what you're saying is this is pretty much like every other thread, just this one happens to be about issues with someone's male genitals.

[taco.vidal]

WTF is going on around here this week? There's several posters who are usually relatively sane that just lost there ##### this week.

[CroFlames]

The issue seems pretty cut and dry to me. If you have male genitalia, an establishment should be able to ban you and allow only women in their spas if they wish.

In today's day and age, I would never say that openly though. You'd instantly be labelled by the hyper vigilant social justice rule enforcers.