Ninth Circuit Forces Seattle Women-Only Spa to Admit Transgender Women

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling requiring Olympus Spa, a female-only Korean spa in Seattle, to admit transgender women, specifically rejecting the spa owners' claims that this violated their religious freedom under the First Amendment. The court ruled that Washington's Law Against Discrimination (WLAD) prohibits discrimination based on gender identity or expression, defining sexual orientation to include these categories, and that the spa's policy of excluding transgender women with male genitalia constituted unlawful discrimination. The decision clarified that while gender-segregated facilities are allowed under WLAD, they cannot deny access or discriminate based on gender identity. This case reflects broader tensions around transgender rights and religious freedom in public accommodations. Similar issues arise in other states, as seen in Maine, where transgender student Nicole Maines won a landmark bathroom rights case, but ongoing legislative challenges threaten such protections. These legal battles highlight the continuing national debate over transgender rights in education, public accommodations, and the intersection with religious beliefs.