MIDLAND, MI -- A transgender woman who believes she was unknowingly at the center of a Planet Fitness policy controversy said she has only entered the Midland gym's locker room on two separate visits.

The Planet Fitness membership of Midland County resident Yvette Cormier was cancelled after the woman made complaints to fellow gym members over several days about a transgender woman using the locker room. Carlotta Sklodowska believes she is the transgender woman to whom Cormier was referring.

During separate trips to the gym, according to Sklodowska, she entered the women's locker room to hang up her coat and purse, and then to retrieve the items after her workout.

"I'm not actually a member," Sklodowska said. "I was there as a guest of one of my friends."

Carlotta Sklodowska is the woman's chosen name and it is the name she asks that others use when referring to her.

Sklodowska said she asked about the locker room policy regarding transgender individuals before entering the women's locker room.

"You use the locker room that corresponds with how you are dressed," she said the Planet Fitness employee told her.

Cormier has said the transgender woman she saw in the locker room "looked like a man" and was wearing men's clothing.

According to Sklodowska, she wore leggings and a baggy t-shirt during both trips to the gym. She said many people tell her she looks like a man, and she could see why Cormier would see her body structure as masculine.

"It's obvious, even from the back," Sklodowska said.

The Midland resident said she uses public bathrooms all the time and has never had any issues previously.

"No one has complained yet," she said.

Sklodowska said she did not observe anyone in the Planet Fitness locker room who looked distressed about her presence.

Friends told her about the news story circulating regarding Cormier and the locker room policy. That is when Sklodowska figured out that it was likely her to whom Cormier was referring, since she had visited Planet Fitness and is the only transgender woman she knows of in town.

"As far as I can tell, I am the only one in Midland," Sklodowska said.

In general, Sklodowska said she does not see Midland as a very welcoming community for a transgender woman. She has, though, found a group of friends who she said are very supportive.

"I have loads of friends around town," she said. "They are all straight ladies. We have wonderful times together."



Letting the public know she is a member of the Midland community is beneficial, Sklodowska said. That's why she was willing to come forward.

"It's in my best interest," she said.

In reference to Cormier's safety concerns, Sklodowska said she wants to make it clear that she is not looking to harm anyone.

-- Jessica Shepherd is a reporter with MLive/The Saginaw News. Contact her at 989-996-0687, email her at jessica_shepherd@mlive.com or follow her on Twitter.