What started as a promise of inclusivity has turned into a legal and PR nightmare for a London gym owner. Natalee Barnett, the fitness influencer behind The Girls Spot, raised thousands on GoFundMe under the pledge that trans women would be welcome at her women’s-only gym. But now, as opening day nears, she’s changed the rules—and trans advocates aren’t letting it slide.
Barnett’s 2021 statement was clear: “Trans women are women and also a minority that need to be protected.” But in a sudden reversal, she declared this week that The Girls Spot would be a “single-sex space for biological women,” citing safety concerns around gym harassment and sexual violence. While acknowledging the need for all women to have safe spaces, her decision has ignited backlash, with accusations of transphobia and breach of trust.
From Safe Space to Legal Firestorm
Social media has erupted in outrage, with critics slamming Barnett for taking donations under false pretenses. “Reimburse those who helped pay. You lied,” one user fumed. Others questioned how the gym plans to enforce its new policy—would muscular cis women be subjected to “gender checks” at the door? The backlash has reached legal experts, who warn that denying trans women access could lead to discrimination lawsuits under UK law, where trans women are legally recognized as female.
Barnett, for her part, is doubling down. In a follow-up statement, she insisted, “The decision was not easy. My hope is that every woman, cis and trans, finds a space to feel strong and empowered.” But for many in the LGBTQ community, that answer isn’t good enough.
A Pattern of Exclusion?
The Girls Spot isn’t the first establishment to claim “women’s safety” as a reason to exclude trans people. Across the UK, similar cases have surfaced, from women’s shelters to sports leagues. Advocacy groups argue that trans-exclusionary policies don’t actually protect cis women—they just fuel anti-trans rhetoric.
As The Girls Spot moves closer to opening, one thing is certain: the legal battles and cultural debates surrounding trans inclusion aren’t going away anytime soon. Whether Barnett stands firm or faces legal consequences remains to be seen. But one question lingers—if trans women were good enough to donate, why aren’t they good enough to train?