Posted on 11/18/2014 2:41:03 PM PST by Morgana
FULL TITLE: 68 Year Old Man Kicked Out Of Planet Fitness For Wearing Pro-life T-shirt Despite Their Claim Of Being 100% Judgement Free
UPDATE: Planet Fitness released this statement to me a few minutes ago – “At Planet Fitness, we are committed to providing a comfortable and welcoming environment for everyone. The majority of Planet Fitness clubs, including this location in Orange City, FL, are owned and operated by individual franchisees. The dress code policy is enforced at the discretion of club staff and the local franchisee.” McCall Gosselin, Director of Public Relations
I just got off the phone with Michael Amarosa, a 68 year-old man from Deltona, Florida who was recently kicked out of the local Planet Fitness for wearing a pro-life t-shirt to work out in.
Michael has been going to Planet Fitness for three years and about two weeks ago was approached by one of the staff as he was working out. The staff member informed him that his shirt was offensive to someone and asked if he would be willing to change into a shirt she had in her hand. Michael said no and asked what would happen if he did not change his shirt. He was asked to leave.
Now before I go on, lets look at the slogan for Planet Fitness: “Welcome to Planet Fitness. Home of the Judgement Free Zone®”. That’s right, Planet Fitness wants people to think they are a “judgement free zone” while casting judgement on Michael for a pro-life t-shirt.
Michael’s shirt read, “abortion kills a person” and he thought that if he wore a less abrasive shirt that maybe they would not cast judgement on him. He was wrong. Michael came back the next day wearing a shirt that read, “pray to end abortion” and he was approached again and asked to leave.
Michael told me how he was inspired by Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life who encourages people to be open with their pro-life beliefs. He wants to educate the public about abortion and thats why he wears his pro-life t-shirts. Michael is not yelling at people or trying to start debates in the gym, he simply works out and practices free speech with a t-shirt.
I encouraged Michael and thanked him for his courage and told him that Stand True will be sending him a bunch of free pro-life t-shirts from our store at prolifeworld.com and told him about what happened recently when TLC censored the Duggar’s pro-life t-shirt on the show, 19 Kids and Counting.
Anyone who knows me, knows I am just like Michael as I love to wear pro-life t-shirts everywhere I go. I have had the opportunity to witness to countless people because of them and I also wear them to the gym almost every day. We must be bold in our opposition to abortion and Michael has shown us courage with his stand. He is an inspiration to me and so many for his willingness to be a constant public witness for life and for the babies.
I am in the process of contacting pro-life lawyers for Michael to help him fight Planet Fitness and get his rights back. In the mean time I need you to help us fight for Michael.
Bryan Kemper
Especially in light of their statement we should all contact the local Planet Fitness.
Please contact Planet Fitness in Orange City Florida and express your disgust with how they treated Michael:
The Local Planet Fitness – Phone: 386.490.4416
Tweet: @planetfitness
McCall Gosselin Director of Public Relations
Phone: 603-750-0001 x199 Email: mccall.gosselin@pfhq.com
Megan Lynch Public Relations Manager
Phone: 603.750.0001 x225 Email: megan.lynch@pfhq.com
Everyone who is a member and “Pro Life” should take their membership elsewhere and tell them why!
Now, will Planet Fitness let me in?
Planet anti-Fetus.
or Abortion Kills Female Babies
or Abortion Kills Black Babies
and let em wonder bout that for awhile.
“Michael told me how he was inspired by Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life “
Someone give me a catholic ping please..
I wonder if pro-abortion shirts are okay there?
Maybe someone there locally will try it out.
That “gym” kicks people out for all kinds of nonsense. If you are a pansy, it is a good “gym” for you.(not directed at you)
Sorry, but he has no "rights" in this case, except perhaps to a refund of any fees he's paid.
PF is a private business, and have every right to enforce a dress code for those who do business with them.
If he doesn't like it, he can work out elsewhere.
You know Gerry, I see t shirts every day that “offend” me but I never say anything. Why bother? It only feeds the flames. I mean if people are actually going to stoop that low to wear stuff like that then, well, that’s on them.
Asking anyone to take off a t shirt because you find it offensive? Sorry. We have free speech in this country. For this man or even the jerks at westboro baptist. It has to be the same or no one has free speech.
Used to go the the food co-op in Santa Fe back around 1980. They had a rack where members could put up flyers for others to pick up. Always loaded with greenie and anti-capitalist stuff. Sign said it was a free speech zone.
I always wanted to put up some rightie stuff just to see the reaction it would get. Strongly suspect free speech would go right out the window.
Sadly, I never did.
And that is why conservative messages get censored, while left-wing messages don't. We don't bother to complain.
“orry, but he has no “rights” in this case, except perhaps to a refund of any fees he’s paid.”
Now wait just one cotton picking minute! I happen to be a member of a gym. I had to sign a contract when I joined. There was a dress code. In that dress code I do have to wear proper shoes and what is reasonable as clothing to work out in. There is nothing in my contract that says I can’t wear a “pro life t shirt” Or that anything like that is forbidden. Now I am not a member of Planet Fitness and we do have that in my area (it sucks, in my opinion, for the record) What did this man’s contract state on what kind of clothing could or could not be warn? If it’s not in the contract/rules when he signed up he may have a case.
Wild Oats ?
I actually used to belong to that exact Planet Fitness and was considering renewing my membership. I called about the situation and they said they are judgment free and the tshirt intimidated someone?? I asked if I wore a pro military tshirt and it intimidated someone would I be asked to leave? The girl was did say I am free to believe anything I want(thank God for little freedoms /S) but that is their policy.
A private business can ban an “offensive” shirt, but they better be ready to deal with the consequences.
“judgement free” means that everyone is judged
You are correct in that he may have a claim that the gym has violated its contract with him.
I was assuming, possibly incorrectly, that the author was claiming he has a constitutional right to wear whatever shirt he wants. That asking him to change or leave is a violation of his right to free speech or some such idiocy.
The problem, of course, is that there is no way any contract can cover all possible contingencies in advance.
BTW, if I objected to another patron wearing a Che shirt glorifying a mass murderer, I wonder if he’d be asked to change or leave?
What?
Was the co op called “wild oats” in Santa Fe ? They had such a hippie help wall as well.....
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