David Lloyd gyms insist trans members ‘have gender certificate’ before they can use their preferred changing room Recent reports reveal the fitness chain asks for a Gender Recognition Certificate

David Lloyd is one of the only leading UK gyms to require transgender members show documentation to enable them to use changing rooms in line with the gender the identify with.

The chain asks trans people to produce a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) before they are able to use gender-specific facilities, analysis by HuffPost UK found.

A number of national gyms – including PureGym, The Gym Group, EasyGym Nuffield Health and Virgin Active – were investigated, and it appears David Lloyd are the only one that requires such documentation.

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Gender Recognition Certificate

David Lloyd reiterated its policy in a statement, adding there has been little interest from members into gender-neutral facilities.

It said: “Our policy is that unless the member holds a Gender Recognition Certificate, transgender members must use the facilities designated for their birth gender.”

David Lloyd has over 500,000 members in its 99 gyms across the UK.

Virgin Active and EasyGym said they “welcomed” its members to use changing rooms of the gender they identify with.

PureGym also issues an “everyone welcome” policy on a case-by-case basis in compliance with legal guidelines, following the backlash when a trans woman was asked to leave a women’s changing room at a branch last year.

Nuffield Health also claimed it “fully complies” with the law to “ensure all customer are looked after”.

Transgender community

David Lloyd told i: “David Lloyd Leisure has always worked to ensure that our clubs offer the highest quality facilities, and provide a welcoming environment to all, regardless of ability, race, sexuality or gender. We have zero tolerance for any behaviour which puts at risk, disrespects or causes concern to our members or to our team.

“We recognise the particular challenges facing our transgender members and would never knowingly seek to disadvantage or discomfort them, or any of our members. We do not have a practice of asking people for a Gender Recognition Certificate, but trust and support our local teams to work with individual members to resolve any issues and sensitivities as appropriate, one to one. ”

Equality Act 2010

A GRC is not a necessity for members of the transgender community although it is available to those over the 18 who reside in England, Scotland or Wales.

An application costs £140 and applicants must have had received a gender dysphoria diagnosis, lived in an acquired gender for at least two years, and is intending to live in an acquired gender until death.

The Equality Act 2010 does not require a person to have undergone physical reassignment from their birth sex to their identified gender.