NJ Spa Ordered To Allow Transgender Clients To Use Female-Only Nude Areas

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A Korean spa in Bergen County must allow transgender women into its female-only nude areas, regardless of whether they've had surgery, a judge ruled recently.

King Spa & Sauna in Palisades Park agreed in August to allow customers who identify as women into the nude sauna and hot tubs as part of a consent order.

According to court documents, Alexandra Goebert sued the spa in Palisades Park back in May 2023 after she was troubled by an interaction with staff.

Goebert, a New York State resident, said she had used the spa in August 2022 but was restricted from some areas.

She said that at first, she entered the spa and presented her driver license, which identifies her as female.

When she checked in, she says, she was given an armband for women, meaning she could access the "women only" parts of the spa. These include the hot tubs and sauna, where nudity is mandatory.

The suit explains, "Plaintiff is transgender, meaning that her gender identity (female) was different from the sex she was assigned at birth (male)."

Goebert said she asked a staff member about certain services, like a rub or massage, the staff member then spoke with a manager, who, in turn, spoke with Goebert.

According to the suit, the manager then asked Goebert, "Have you changed your front?"

When Goebert requested clarification, the manager asked if she had "boy parts," and she responded that she did not, because she's a woman.

Then, Goebert realized the manager was asking about "gender affirming" or "bottom surgery," she says in the suit. She told the manager that she had not had it.

According to Goebert, the manager said she was restricted from the "female side" of the spa, but Goebert replied that she wouldn't feel comfortable on the male side.

She pulled up anti-discrimination laws on her phone and read them to the manager and staff, she says, but she was still restricted from those areas. She then left.

The suit asked for a jury trial and said the denial of services caused Goebert "economic and non-economic harm."

Agreed To An Order

In August of this year, both parties agreed to a consent order to be signed by a judge.

Bergen County Superior Court Judge Thomas A. Sarlo signed off on the order, which was to be implemented within 30 days.

As part of the order, the spa agreed to change its policies, signage, and advertising to say that "individuals shall be given access and admitted entry to all such services and facilities in accordance with the individual’s gender identity or expression."

The order addresses pronouns and names as well, saying that staff must address clients "by the name and pronouns that correspond to that individual’s gender identity, upon request. A court-ordered name or gender change is not required."

The order says, "If any client feels uncomfortable using communal areas requiring partial or full nudity for any reason, regardless of whether the discomfort is because of or increased by the possibility that they may see or be seen by transgender clients in those areas, the client experiencing such discomfort may request the use of private facilities instead."

Goebert told NJ.com this month that she is satisfied with the agreement, saying that "policy changes" were all she really wanted.