Olympus Spa, a Korean Christian-owned, female-only, nude spa in Washington state, was ordered by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday to allow transgender guys to use its facilities.
By a majority of 2 to 1, the court upheld a lower court judgment from Seattle in 2023 that determined the spa’s policy was in violation of Washington’s Law Against Discrimination (WLAD).
The dispute began in 2020 when Olympus Spa refused to admit Haven Wilvich, a transgender man with complete male genitalia.
Citing sex and sexual orientation discrimination, the Washington State Human Rights Commission (WSHRC) filed a complaint.
In response, Olympus Spa filed a lawsuit against the commission, claiming that the state’s actions violated its First Amendment rights, which include freedom of association and freedom of religion.
The Ninth Circuit dismissed Olympus Spa’s First Amendment arguments on Thursday.
