A California teenager sobbed before the city council as she recounted her trauma when she saw “a naked man,” who she claimed was a transgender woman, in the women’s locker rooms at her local YMCA.
Rebecca Philips, 17, spoke before the meeting in Santee, a San Diego suburb, on Wednesday night to call for reform of existing policies after encountering the unidentified person.
She told the council how two weeks ago she was changing after a swim at the Santee YMCA when she saw a transgender woman naked in the changing rooms.
“When I was showering after my workout, I saw a naked man in the women’s locker room,” she said.
“I immediately went back into the shower, terrified, and hid behind her flimsy excuse for a curtain until it was gone.”
Philips said she has been haunted by the thought of her five-year-old sister, who takes her to the gym this summer, getting into the same situation.
In a trembling voice, she said, “This is the YMCA where hundreds of children spend their summer afternoons in child care camps.
“This is the YMCA where my little sister took gymnastics classes.
“The dressing room should be her safe haven to gossip, shower and change with her friends.”
Rebecca Philips, 17, addressed Santee City Council Wednesday night
She urged them to change their policy towards transgender women using the facilities they choose, saying it was indecent and “obscene”.
Philips met the transgender woman in the dressing room at the YMCA in Santee, California – a suburb of San Diego
Philips says staff told her that the trans woman had the right to be in the dressing rooms and that only people on the sex offender register were barred from entering.
Women’s facilities — locker rooms, shelters, jails — can be used by anyone in California, thanks to a state law that says people must be allowed to use facilities that conform to their gender identity.
And in May 2022, three Democratic San Diego County overseers decided to redefine the word “woman” to include trans people.
Nathan Fletcher, Terra Lawson-Remer and Nora Vargas all agreed to the measure. The two Republicans serving as regulators voted against the bill.
Philips told the council she was appalled by the experience.
San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher was one of three who voted to pass the May 2022 bill, which said anyone who defines themselves as female can use the facilities of their choice
Terra Lawson-Remer (left) and Nora Vargas (right), both San Diego County Supervisors, also voted to pass the bill
Philips said that when asked about her transgender policy, YMCA management told her, “the man I saw was actually allowed to shower wherever he wanted.”
She added, “A grown man can shower next to a teenage girl at your YMCA here in Santee.”
Philips said she was dismayed by the response from YMCA staff.
“I was made to feel like I did something wrong,” she said.
“They were uncomfortable with the indecent exposure of a man to a minor.”
Philips said her father, who complained, was contacted by Teri Maas, the Association Director of Membership Experience at the San Diego County YMCA.
Teri Maas, the Association Director of Membership Experience at the San Diego County YMCA, called Philips’ father to reassure him that his daughter was never in danger
“She informed my father that I was not in danger,” Philips said. ‘That I was sure.’
But she added: “Could you knowingly send an underage girl into a room with a naked man and say she’s safe? Or was it right?’
The YMCA said in a statement: “We are aware of a situation where two members were in the locker room at the Santee YMCA earlier this month. The comfort and safety of all our members is our top priority.
“As a community-oriented organization, we strive to meet the needs of all people. We recognize that birth and gender identity are sensitive issues. We rely on subject matter experts, laws and policies established by the State of California to ensure our policies are welcoming and respectful of all members of the community.’
They said they would now review their procedures in light of Philips’ complaint.
“As part of this commitment to making sure everyone is comfortable, we are reviewing the layouts of the dressing rooms at all of our association’s facilities,” they said.
“Our goal is to ensure that everyone has access to additional privacy when they want and need it.”
Trans women using women’s locker rooms — and participating in some same-sex sports — have proven to be a political flashpoint in recent years.
Critics say trans women who still have male genitals should not be allowed into spaces where women may be undressed or vulnerable.
Advocates say only a tiny minority of trans women are sex offenders, and that banning all trans women from entering women’s spaces persecutes the innocent majority.