YMCA of Three Rivers touts inclusion while
threatening to call the police on peaceful protesters & Minorities, while allowing chaos to rein in their buildings

During my first peaceful protest at the Chaplin Family YMCA, hundreds of Members drove in and out of the parking lot. Of these members, 10 or less were BIPOC, and 10 or less were youth. How can a health & wellness space claim to “Ignite potential” and be the safe space for minorities, when older white men dominate the atmosphere?

YMCA of Three Rivers prides itself on equity and inclusion with no visible follow-through. Any other gym I have attended has a large, diverse clientele. While the YMCA claims to be welcoming, it has clear barriers to access for Newcomers, 2SLGBTQ+ Youth, and those with disabilities. This is reflected in the fact that in my four hour protest, a majority of the people entering and leaving the facility are older white adults.

A few members took the time to engage with me. Each and every one of them were in the white 60+ demographic. Many of them challenged me, saying that the YMCA has things in place, and flies a pride flag, and therefore it must be fine. One lady was particularly rude and openly transphobic. She talked about how “Some of the ladies felt unsafe having a trans person in the washroom.” Unfortunately for her, the human rights code doesn’t care about her feelings. Shame on this unpleasant woman, and shame on the YMCA for enabling her and people like her. This is exactly why the 2SLGBTQ+ Youth Programming needs to be taken away and given to Langs.

If people like this transphobic, bigoted woman get a voice, that just shows that the YMCA’s inclusion branding isn’t worth the paper it was written on.

The YMCA refuses feedback around discrimination and equity. This is made evident by the fact that staff came out and threatened to call police approximately 40 minutes into the protest, alledging that telling members to cancel and go to LA fitness was not peaceful. She was incorrect, as a peaceful protest refers to a non-violent demonstration.

Sure, these straight white men feel safe here. What about everyone else? What about the people who aren’t here because they either can’t afford it, or don’t “Feel safe” with the demographics. Because unfortunately for the transphobic woman I encountered, minorities also don’t feel safe here, and they face actual injustice - not just someone they don’t like being in a public change room. I was actually the one being made to feel unsafe by changeroom interrogation and inappropriate comments on 2SLGBTQ+ issues from members as recently as July, but since I wasn’t a straight white man, nobody cared.

I have experienced long-term emotional abuse, micro aggressions, and hatred as a result of my identity, and I am imploring the community to stop encouraging empty inclusion promises while harm festers behind the scenes.

If you are a minority, in the 2SLGBTQ+ community, or you care about promoting true inclusion in the community:

Cancel your YMCA Membership.

Donate to Charities who can actually make a difference beyond a straight white membership base.

Tell your YMCA that you will no longer support systemic barriers disguised as inclusion.

The YMCA is in a DISMAL state. We need more people to speak out against the lack of equity and the exclusion and erasure against minorities. I can’t do this alone.

Stay tuned for petitions, more protests, and advocacy efforts.

J