A California woman, Tish Hyman, has spoken out after her gym membership was revoked following her objections to a man repeatedly entering the women’s locker room at a Gold’s Gym location in Los Angeles. The incident, which unfolded on November 2, has sparked a wider conversation about women’s safety, gender identity policies, and the responsibilities of fitness centers to protect all members.
Hyman shared a video of the confrontation on social media, showing the man walking toward the women’s restroom while other gym members expressed concern. According to Hyman and other female patrons, this individual had been using the women’s locker room for several weeks. Despite multiple written complaints filed by Hyman and other women, the gym staff reportedly took no action to address the situation.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Hyman emphasized the inaction of the gym’s management. She wrote, “Multiple women and I have repeatedly made written reports on this man for coming into our women’s locker room harassing us, and the gym staff has done absolutely nothing!!” Her distress escalated when the man entered the locker room behind her and allegedly called her a derogatory name in a deep, angry voice. Feeling threatened, she fled the locker room screaming for help, prompting other gym members, particularly men, to intervene. It was only after this intervention that the staff finally removed the man from the area.
However, the resolution took an unexpected and controversial turn when the gym also terminated Hyman’s membership. She expressed profound frustration and bewilderment at this decision, stating that she felt punished for speaking up about her safety concerns. “They removed him — but then they turned around and terminated my membership too, as if I was being punished for speaking up,” she wrote. Hyman highlighted that many women at the gym sympathized with her and were relieved someone finally voiced their concerns publicly. Her experience raises questions about whether fitness centers are prioritizing inclusivity over safety, or if they are adequately equipped to handle such sensitive situations.
Following the incident, Hyman revealed that she has faced significant online harassment, including being labeled a “TERF” (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) by some individuals. In her Instagram stories, she shared her emotional struggle, saying, “I’m so sad right now because I just feel like I’m being punished for speaking up. I feel like I’m being punished for not wanting to be naked in front of men in the restroom.” She described her feelings as akin to being assaulted for simply wanting to maintain her privacy and safety.
Additional footage posted by another gym member showed Hyman vocally expressing her frustration after her removal. She declared to those around her, “Everybody saw that man in the f---ing locker room. No one’s saying s---. And I’m f---ing done with it.” The video was shared widely on social media, with notable figures such as OutKick’s Riley Gaines praising Hyman’s courage. Gaines remarked, “If we saw boldness like this back in 2020, this insanity would’ve never been allowed to fester like it has. God bless you for speaking the truth loudly.”
Hyman has also documented other unsettling encounters with the same individual. In one video posted a week prior to the confrontation, the man is seen walking through the locker room wearing a sports bra and reportedly telling Hyman to leave, claiming, “Straight women like d---, and they’re probably looking at me more than you.” This statement, coupled with the presence of underage girls who also use the locker room, has intensified concerns about safety and appropriate behavior in these sensitive spaces.
The Gold’s Gym where these incidents occurred, located in Beverly Center, was recently acquired by EōS Fitness. Both companies were contacted for comment but had not responded at the time of reporting. It’s important to note that many gyms enforce policies prohibiting the use of cameras or recording devices in locker rooms, and the gym could potentially cite such a rule as a reason for terminating Hyman’s membership. However, the broader legal context complicates the issue.
Under California law, individuals are permitted to use restrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their self-declared gender identity, a policy that gyms must follow. The California Attorney General’s official guidance states, “You have the right to use the restroom consistent with your gender identity… both in public settings, like schools, and at your workplace.” This legal framework aims to protect transgender individuals from discrimination, but it also raises challenges