A Belfast gym has been accused of discrimination against a transgender woman, Leigh Lyle-Toal, after refusing her personal training sessions due to her being trans. Lyle-Toal shared screenshots of the exchange, in which she disclosed her gender identity and the gym owner responded with “Just going to be upfront, I have issues with that so good luck.”
The incident has left Lyle-Toal feeling rejected and she shared her experience online to warn other trans people about the business. However, she was subjected to further online abuse, including being misgendered by the gym owner. The gym’s refusal to allow Lyle-Toal to train there constitutes discrimination on the basis of gender, which is protected under the Equality Act.
Lyle-Toal revealed that following the messages, the owner continued to misgender her on purpose in exchanges he had with people trying to defend her. The gym owner also called and threatened her over the phone. The incident has taken a toll on Lyle-Toal’s mental health, but she has found support from her community in Belfast.
Citizens Advice stated that businesses cannot discriminate against people because of protected characteristics, which includes gender reassignment for trans individuals. However, the gym stood by its actions and comments online, claiming to have strong morals and values, and the gym owner stated that he would still have an issue with Lyle-Toal and would not want her in his private gym. The gym denies denying access or membership to anyone for being transgender, but the messages shared by Lyle-Toal suggest otherwise.
Lyle-Toal also claimed that the owner mocked her sexuality and used derogatory language in conversations with people trying to defend her. This case highlights the ongoing struggle for trans individuals to access services and be treated with respect and dignity.