Planet Fitness, a well-known gym franchise that prides itself on providing a non-judgmental space for working out, revoked the membership of a Michigan woman after she lodged a complaint related to gender identity.

Yvette Cormier complained to both the front desk and Planet Fitness corporate headquarters because she claimed an individual who walked into the women’s locker room took her by surprise. “He [sic] totally looked like a man. He was not dressed like a woman at all,” she said. “To me, that’s just very unprofessional – it’s even scary, as far as I’m concerned.”

However, both the gym’s management and corporate directors stood behind the Planet Fitness “Judgment Free Zone” policy, which supports self-chosen gender identity. “Planet Fitness is committed to creating a non-intimidating, welcoming environment for our members. Our gender identity non-discrimination policy states that members and guests may use all gym facilities based on their sincere self-reported gender identity,” said McCall Gosselin, director of public relations for the Planet Fitness corporate office.

Cormier’s membership was not removed simply because she made the complaint, but the way in which she made it, according to the gym’s statement. “The manner in which this member expressed her concerns about the policy exhibited behavior that management at the Midland club deemed inappropriate and disruptive to other members, which is a violation of the membership agreement and as a result her membership was canceled,” said Gosselin.

LGBTQ advocates have applauded the Planet Fitness policy. The gym has the legal right to allow members to use whichever locker room aligns with their gender identity, according to the legislative council for the Human Rights Campaign.

“A transgender woman would be much more at risk for her safety if she had to use the men’s bathroom,” said Jay Kaplan, an attorney with the ACLU of Michigan’s LGBT Project.