Exclusive: Planet Fitness Sued Over Anti-Gay, Anti-Trans Slurs

By EVAN GAHR

Dylan Miles, who identifies as transgender and an “LGBTIA+ individual,” says he was subjected to anti-gay and anti-trans slurs when he apparently tried to use the women’s facilities at a Planet Fitness gym in the Bronx, New York.

He says an employee at the fitness facility, Diamond Paredes, acting in cahoots with manager Chris Walters, called him a “trans faggot,” among other names. 

His lawsuit, filed earlier this month in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, charges violations of the federal Civil Rights Act and also New York City and New York State Human Rights law.

The lawsuit says that Paredes “illegally discriminated against Miles based on his sexual orientation and gender identity in regards to the woman’s bathroom. Dylan identifies as transgender.” 

At point “Diamond tracked Dylan [down] on the second floor where he was running and and she said, ‘We’re about to sound the Lunk alarm because you accidentally went into the woman’s restroom. Tranny.” 

“The Lunk alarm is from corporate and it’s posted on HUGE Signs all over Planet Fitness gyms.”

At another point, the lawsuit recounts, Paredes “came up to Mr. Miles while he was running on the treadmill and said we need to escort you out of the women’s bathroom, my manager has instructed me to do so as well. We can’t have trans people in the woman’s bathroom. You Lunk.” 

In another conversation, the lawsuit says, Paredes called Miles “a little trans faggot.”

The complaint, which also charges intentional infliction of emotional distress,  says Miles contacted Planet Fitness Human Resources “to report the constant harassment and discrimiantion from Diamond” but nobody got back to him. 

Miles told this reporter he hopes to get “50 million dollars” from the lawsuit,  but declined further comment. 

Diamond Paredes and Chris Walters did not respond to telephone calls seeking comment. 

McCall Gosselin, a spokeswoman for Planet Fitness, said via email that, “As the home of the Judgement Free Zone, Planet Fitness is committed to creating a non-intimidating and inclusive environment that is welcoming for all. As a matter of policy, we cannot comment further on pending litigation.”