Gym Owner’s New Stance

London Women’s-Only Gym Faces Backlash for Prioritizing Female Safety

By Supreme

London, England - A soon-to-open women’s-only gym in London has ignited controversy after its founder affirmed that the facility will be strictly for biological women, excluding men who identify as transgender. The decision, aimed at ensuring a safe and harassment-free workout space, has drawn both strong support and intense criticism.

Fitness coach and influencer Natalee Barnet recently announced the launch of The Girls Spot, a gym set to open in Wandsworth. The facility was created to provide women with a space free from the common issues of gym harassment, unwanted attention, and intimidation that many face in co-ed fitness centers. Barnet stated that the gym’s core mission is to offer women a secure, comfortable environment where they can focus on their training without interference.

The policy of restricting entry to biological women has sparked a heated debate. Supporters of Barnet’s initiative argue that women deserve exclusive spaces where they can work out without the presence of males. Many have praised the gym’s commitment to prioritizing female safety, particularly given the ongoing concerns about harassment in mixed-gender fitness facilities.

However, activists and critics have accused Barnet of discrimination, arguing that the exclusion of transgender-identifying males is unfair and exclusionary. The backlash has been especially vocal on social media, where some opponents have suggested that the gym’s policy violates inclusivity standards. Calls for boycotts and even legal challenges have emerged, with activists arguing that such spaces should be open to anyone who identifies as a woman.

Adding fuel to the controversy, past statements made by Barnet have resurfaced. In 2021, she had initially expressed openness to allowing transgender-identifying males into the gym. However, in her recent announcement clarifying that the gym would be exclusively for biological women, she faced severe backlash—including death threats from men who insisted they were also biological women despite being born male. The threats and harassment intensified after she reinforced her stance on protecting women’s spaces, highlighting the extreme reactions surrounding the debate over single-sex facilities.

Barnet has stood firm in her position, emphasizing that The Girls Spot exists to cater specifically to the needs of biological women, and that women have the right to a space dedicated to their safety and comfort. She has dismissed accusations of discrimination, arguing that female-only spaces have long been necessary due to the prevalence of harassment and discomfort in shared workout environments.

Despite the backlash, many women have expressed enthusiasm for the gym, welcoming the opportunity to train in an all-female setting. The controversy reflects broader tensions surrounding the issue of single-sex spaces and the ongoing push for gender-neutral policies.

As The Girls Spot prepares to officially open, the debate over women’s right to exclusive spaces versus calls for broader inclusivity is unlikely to subside anytime soon. Whether the backlash will impact the gym’s success remains to be seen, but Barnet’s decision to maintain its female-only policy has already made it a focal point in the ongoing discussion about sex-based rights and protections.