Transgender Woman's Membership Revoked in the Wake of Locker Room Controversy

Eris Montano, the 52-year-old transgender woman whose presence in the Ellsiville, Mo., locker room caused controversy last week, has had her membership revoked by Life Time Fitness.

Following subpoenas by the Missouri Attorney General and several posts on social media, Life Time Fitness called Montano into the fitness center office earlier this week and informed her that her membership would be revoked over safety and security concerns at the club. The Life Time Fitness manager cited social media posts Montano had made as being part of the safety concern and not her use of the women's locker room. 

 “We swiftly took action and this individual is no longer a member of Life Time. Providing safe, secure environments is paramount for our team members, members and guests. Life Time will continue to operate our clubs in a safe and secure manner while following the Missouri laws in place to protect the human rights of individuals.” Spokeswoman Natalie Bushaw said in a statement. 

Meanwhile, Montano insists that there was no safety threat. She had posted to Facebook and X expressing concerns over this experience as someone who identifies as transgender. 

After having her membership revoked, Montano posted on X, “Lifetime Fitness just decided to solve their trans girl in the locker room problem by misreading my remarks today as threats of violence rather than threats of lawsuits and terminating my membership, and having the police walk me out.” 

Related: Protests and Gym Boycotts After Transgender Woman Uses Her Preferred Locker Room

All of the commotion on social media occurs as the Missouri Attorney General, Andrew Bailey, has increased his calls for criminal liability on the part of Life Time Fitness.

“Even more concerning is the fact that instead of taking the safety concerns from your gym members seriously, you rudely correct them and insist they call this biological male by the 'correct pronouns.'” Bailey said in a statement, “While it might be considered fashionable in certain corporate boardrooms to pretend that biology is irrelevant, the American heartland still lives in reality. Missourians recognize that allowing adult men to openly invade and disrobe in spaces set aside for women and young girls is indefensible and places political correctness above public safety.  That is why I am putting you on notice that you are under investigation.”

There have been no further statements from politicians, however, Montano did post once more to social media saying she had sat down for a conversation with the leaders spearheading the criminal investigation.

She said, “'I will never NOT believe in engagement and listening and I'm still going to demand justice from anyone who defamed me or misused their government position to deny my rights as a citizen.”