A San Francisco YMCA has adopted new locker room guidelines following complaints from some members about nudity and conduct inside a women’s changing area at one of its facilities.
The updated rules were posted at a Stonestown neighborhood branch of the YMCA after months of dispute involving a transgender woman known as Sammy.
The use of women’s locker room facilities prompted complaints from some members, as well as protests and petitions within the local fitness community, the Daily Mail reported.
The new policy says “nudity should be discreet, limited, and brief” and states members should remain clothed or covered except when actively showering.
It also directs users to “respect privacy and personal space” and maintain appropriate distance from others in shared locker room areas.
Additional provisions specify that hair dryers are to be used only “for drying head hair” and require that children age five and older using a locker room designated for the opposite sex be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Some members said the changes appear to respond to ongoing concerns raised over the past two years about behavior inside the facility.
Critics alleged that Sammy at times remained unclothed in shared spaces for extended periods, including while grooming or using communal areas.
Supporters, however, said she was being unfairly singled out and argued she was entitled to use facilities consistent with her gender identity.
Several members said Sammy has not been seen at the Stonestown location since the updated guidelines were implemented.
Susan Pete, a 59-year-old member who has been among those raising concerns, questioned how the policy would be enforced in practice.
“‘So what are they going to do – having someone standing around monitoring the situation, saying ‘you’ve been naked too long?’’” Pete said.
The dispute drew broader attention in the Bay Area last year, with protests outside YMCA locations in San Francisco and Berkeley and competing petitions from members on both sides of the issue. Some demonstrators called for clearer separation or alternative facilities for transgender members, while others defended existing access policies.
YMCA officials have previously pointed to California civil rights protections that allow individuals to use facilities consistent with their gender identity. The organization has said it seeks to balance inclusion with safety and comfort for all members.
The updated rules continue to reflect those legal protections while adding more specific language about expectations for conduct and privacy in locker room spaces.
The controversy has also become part of a wider national debate over transgender access to sex-segregated facilities in schools, gyms and public buildings, where policies vary by state and institution.
Angelina Zhou, a 17-year-old member of the Stonestown YMCA, previously said she supported transgender rights but joined a petition calling for changes to locker room rules after what she described as an uncomfortable experience.
“‘Yes, it’s weird that he’s in the women’s locker room naked,’” Zhou said.
She also expressed empathy toward Sammy, adding, “‘I don’t think he goes in the women’s locker room for his pleasure. I don’t think he’s harming anyone. He’s just in his own world.’”
Other members described additional incidents that they said contributed to the tension, including disputes over privacy and personal space inside shared changing areas. Those accounts have not been independently verified.
The YMCA did not respond to requests for comment on the updated policy or member concerns. Attempts to reach Sammy were unsuccessful.
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