3.04.2013

Virginia Korean spa admits discrimination against transgendered customer



In Virginia, a Korean spa is accused of discrimination after kicking out a gay, transgendered woman from its facilities last year: Centreville spa openly rejects homosexual, transgendered customers.

California resident Riya Suising says she was visiting Virginia on business late last year when she decided to go to Spa World in Centreville. But while relaxing in a communal bath, a manager approached her and asked her to leave the spa:

“They told me that I was not welcome there and to leave because I looked a little different,” she said. “Let’s say I am a member of the LGBT population."

Suising said she was told by the spa management that five spa customers had lodged complaints about her presence. Suising said she is very tall and muscular and has very broad shoulders, which may distinguish her from natural-born females, but that otherwise her gender presentation is very feminine. “None of the complaints, as they were described to me, referenced my genitalia in any way,” she said.“I can’t believe that they would discriminate based on physical appearance. I was not doing anything but keeping to myself."
Suising filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, which opened an investigation. An initial statement from Spa World defended its actions, stating "It is our policy to not accept any kinds of abnormal sexual oriented customers to our facility such as homosexuals, or transgender(s)." Yes, they did.

As you can guess, news of Spa World's policy garnered considerable negative attention across the web. Here's a online petition that sprouted up, calling for Spa World to stop the discrimination: Spa World: Stop discriminating against your customers.

Now, it looks like Spa World is dialing it all back, saying the whole discrimination thang was all just a silly lil' misunderstanding. They did indeed kick out Riya Suising, which was regrettable, but they will happily accept the money of all people, of all sexual orientation and gender identity: Spa World Admits It Kicked Out Transgender Woman, Says It Won’t Do It Again.

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