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A legal action claiming the existence of women-only
sections at two gyms is illegal sex discrimination has reached the
Connecticut Supreme Court. This article sets out the issues and the
possible impact on employers.
Executive summary
For decades fitness facilities have been
offering women-only sections, allowing women to
exercise in private without self-image worries or unwanted male
attention. But these sections are now in jeopardy as the
Connecticut Commission on Human Rights & Opportunities (CHRO)
brings a case against two prominent Connecticut gyms, Edge Fitness
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) The Connecticut Supreme Court wrestled Wednesday with the issues of sexual discrimination, differences between women and men and even the definition of gender while hearing arguments over whether fitness clubs can have women-only exercise areas.
The case has raised many thorny questions. Should women be protected from the ogling of men they believe are objectifying them? Do women-only workout areas discriminate against men who have to wait in line to use equipment in the general public area? What about women whose religions bar them from exercising with men?
Should lesbian women be barred from the women-only areas because they might objectify women? And what about transgender people?
High court mulls if women-only areas at gyms discriminate
DAVE COLLINS, Associated Press
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1of8Cathy Grenier, of West Hartford, works out with battle ropes at Edge Fitness, Wednesday, June 17, 2020, in West Hartford, Conn. The Connecticut Supreme Court wrestled Wednesday, May 5, 2021, with the complex issues of sexual discrimination, differences between women and men and even the definition of gender while hearing arguments over whether fitness clubs can have women-only exercise areas. The court made no decision Wednesday and a ruling is expected in several months. (Brad Horrigan/Hartford Courant via AP)Brad Horrigan/APShow MoreShow Less
2of8In this September 2020 photo, Vincent Sansone, founder and president of The Edge Fitness Clubs, stands by the doorway into the women s-only workout area at the Edge s Manchester, Conn., location. The Connecticut Supreme Court wrestled Wednesday, May 5, 2021, with the complex issues of sexual discrimination,
To print this article, all you need is to be registered or login on Mondaq.com.
Executive Summary: For decades fitness
facilities have been offering women-only sections,
allowing women to exercise in private without self-image worries or
unwanted male attention. But these sections are now in jeopardy as
the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights & Opportunities
(CHRO) brings a case against two prominent Connecticut gyms, Edge
Fitness and Club Fitness, to the Connecticut Supreme Court,
asserting that such sections amount to illegal sex discrimination
against men. This is an issue of first impression.
The CHRO has been pleading this case, originally brought to them
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Executive Summary: For decades fitness facilities have been offering “women-only” sections, allowing women to exercise in private without self-image worries or unwanted male attention. But these sections are now in jeopardy as the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights & Opportunities (CHRO) brings a case against two prominent Connecticut gyms, Edge Fitness and Club Fitness, to the Connecticut Supreme Court, asserting that such sections amount to illegal sex discrimination against men. This is an issue of first impression.
The CHRO has been pleading this case, originally brought to them by two males in their mid-20s, for several years now. The CHRO maintains that these women-only sections discriminate against men in violation of Connecticut’s public accommodations law, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46a-64, which prohibits discrimination and segregation in places of public accommodation based on, among other things, sex. Altho