He denounced what he called the state’s use of anti-discrimination laws as a weapon and explained the peculiarities of Korean spas, which segregate people based on biological sex and compel guests to remain naked in public areas.
Lee said that Korean spas are not the same as those at the Ritz-Carlton or Four Seasons.
“With a centuries-old custom, Korean spas demand that their clients be completely nude in order to sit in communal saunas and have their entire body scrubbed from head to toe in front of other naked clients.”
“Now, under state decree, women — and even 13-year-old girls — must be nude alongside patrons with exposed male genitalia while they receive treatment,” he said.
Additionally, preoperative transsexual women who are nude and have intact male genital organs must get full-body massages from female spa staff.
Judge Lee also contended that transgender status is not specifically covered by the WLAD and charged the state with misinterpreting the legislation.
