Both gyms provide a "women-only workout area." The men wanted to use equipment in those areas because it was occupied elsewhere but were not allowed. The two men claim the women's workout-only areas violate the state's public accommodations statute.
"The appeal should be sustained because Connecticut public accommodation statute does not contain an exception for customer gender privacy," said Michal Roberts, an attorney representing CHRO.
"I'm having a problem where it talks about sex and discriminating-based and some discrimination is OK, but discriminating using this thing called sex, using this thing called gender," said Chief Justice Richard Robinson. "I'm not sure what it is."