Fitness USA Members Protest New 'Women Only' Policy at Dearborn Location

A local health club's switch to a "women only" policy has ruffled the feathers of some of its male members.

More than 50 men from Dearborn and surrounding communities organized a protest on Tuesday at the Dearborn Fitness USA, one of two Metro Detroit locations that have changed to workouts for women only.

"The company is in breach of its membership contract," Andrew Sluka of Lincoln Park said. "It's discrimination, plain and simple."

According to Sluka, members were notified on Dec. 3 that the Dearborn location would only allow women to use the facility's equipment. Prior to that, the club offered alternate days for male and female members.

"They gave us a two-week notice, and by law, a fitness club is supposed to give its members a 30 day notice if they change a policy," he said.

Fitness USA, which has three locations in Wayne County, announced a similar policy change at its Taylor location on April 8. Male members at both locations have since been told that they can use the company's Lincoln Park location to work out, but only on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

"The Lincoln Park location is a substandard gym," member Michael Heatherly said. "It is not handicap accessible, it has multiple floors, and you have to walk downstairs to get to the sauna and other exercise equipment.

"It's an inconvenience for me, and it makes it impossible for some of the older members to attend."

Repeated calls to Jodi Berry, Fitness USA executive director, were not returned.

Berry told Heritage Newspapers that the West Bloomfield-based company changed its policy because it had more female members than males in recent years.

“We have done a lot of research and the trends indicate a need for a women-only environment,” Berry said. “We have selected the Taylor club for a health and fitness oasis for women. We will provide special classes, personal training, nutrition and unique services for the needs of women."

In response to the policy change, some female members have since rallied behind the men, and canceled their memberships to the club.

"My uncle had a lifetime membership and now he can't use it," Dearborn resident Sue Haidar said. "The company has been very rude toward its members when we ask for an explanation."

Cherie Cushing of Brownstown has been a member of Fitness USA since 1997 and said she plans to suspend her membership.

"If you buy a membership it should be equal for everybody. What they are doing to the men is wrong," Cushing said. "I refuse to workout until they do something fair for the men."

Daniel Pattenaud of Wyandotte said he upgraded his membership from an annual pass to a life member three weeks ago.

"They took my money and threw me out," he said. "At no time was I told that I couldn't use the Dearborn club."

Sluka said he and others have already spoken to a local attorney with the Michigan Civil Liberties Union who is willing to investigate the discrimination claims.

"We're not going away," he said.

Heatherly said under Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act of 1976, its illegal for a business to subject people to differential treatment based on religion, race, sex, weight, or national origin.

"This is not the policy we signed up for," he said. "If they are only going to allow women at the Taylor and Dearborn locations, they should refund our full membership fee."