Director at Tom Landry Fitness Center says policy dictated by hospital; refusal prompts calls for LGBT boycott of facility
A fitness center owned by Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas won’t allow same-sex couples to sign up for family memberships, a possible violation of the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance that’s prompted calls for a boycott of the facility.
Steven Johnson said he’s been a member of the Baylor Tom Landry Fitness Center, at 411 N. Washington St. in downtown Dallas, for the last eight months.
On Tuesday, May 4, Johnson tried to add his partner of 23 years, Roland Crago, to his membership, but the gym refused.
"I have had numerous health clubs," Johnson said, "and all of them have accepted us as family members. So add Tom Landry Fitness Center to your list with Exxon and all the other companies we can not support with our dollars."
Phil Tyne, director of the Tom Landry Fitness Center, confirmed that gays and lesbians are prohibited from adding same-sex partners to their memberships as spouses. Tyne added that only spouses and children qualify for family memberships.
Tyne said the policy is dictated by the Medical Center, not the 7,000-member gym. He said a representative from the Medical Center’s public relations department would "pull the policy" and contact the newspaper, but they had not done so by press time.
"We can’t put him on as a spouse if they’re not a married couple," Tyne said. "It goes directly with the state law of Texas on what defines a marriage."
It may also go against the city’s eight-year-old nondiscrimination ordinance. And one local gay attorney said the policy raises questions about whether the Medical Center itself discriminates against same-sex couples when it comes to things like visitation.
Beverly Davis, director of Dallas’ Fair Housing Office, said it’s "possible" that the gym’s policy violates the ordinance, which prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation in public accommodations. The Fair Housing Office investigates complaints under the ordinance.
Davis added that she was surprised to learn that a gym in Dallas wouldn’t allow family memberships for same-sex partners.
"It is so common these days to have different family arrangements," Davis said. "It would seem to me that most people who are in that business ought to be accustomed to that by now, and would easily make an accommodation to recognize that you have all different kinds of families now."
Johnson said he planned to contact the Fair Housing Office and file a complaint. A similar complaint was filed a few years against another gym, the Texas Club. In response to media coverage, the Texas Club changed its policy before the complaint could proceed.
Rob Wiley, a gay Dallas attorney who frequently handles discrimination cases, called the policy "absolutely ridiculous." But Wiley acknowledged there may be a "gray area" under the ordinance when it comes to marital status.
"I think to some extent it’s open to interpretation," Wiley said. "I would hope that the city of Dallas would take a broad interpretation. … There’s certainly nothing in the ordinance that says same-sex couples should not be treated the same as married couples."
Wiley, who once represented a lesbian employee who was fired by the Medical Center, said he doesn’t’ believe the hospital is exempt from the ordinance as a religious organization, even though it’s affiliated with the Baptist university in Waco.
"When you have a religious organization that’s performing a nonreligious kind of service, then generally it’s not going to apply," Wiley said of the exemption for religious organizations. "I don’t think that lifting weights has anything to do with praying to God.
"It’s shocking, it’s petty, it doesn’t make good business sense," he added of the policy. "It really is just a policy based on nothing more than discrimination."
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition May 7, 2010.
While I apprecite Ms. Colemans responses – we are talking damage control right now
The policy was clearly stated by the Baylor Fitness Center Staff
The best possible outcome is a public statement of a change in policy – an “oops the employee in question did not know†is all too often used to cover the continued discriminatory practices of business after business
And quite frankly, given the situation – I am not sure how comfortable I’d be even if there was a public announcement – the damage is done
As an HR person, I would also strongly suggest Diversity Training for Ms. Coleman’s staff
If you want to get equal – then take your business – and I am not talking just a gym membership- I am talking Health Care – else where! However, do not risk your quality of care to do so – just those of us that may have options and it’d be enough of us.
If you can switch providers to a non-Baylor care provider – and tell them why – it will be those voices that speak the loudest. Healthcare dollars are one of the biggest line items for companies like Baylor.
I am also a strong advocate for protests! When we take back to the streets – things will change.
While I do not join protest marches I and my family boycott organizations like Baylor Medical Center in our personal lives and through the business decisions we make for our companies.
This situation is a healthcare professional black-eye for Baylor.
Please inform us of their response.
When will people realize what is wrong is wrong and right is right.
Being Gay is wrong.
Fornication and Adultery is wrong.
Murder is wrong.
Sex after marriage is right.
Everyone has to suffer through life, some through poverty, health, wealth, and some by being Gay.
It is your test. Several Prophets(peace be upon them) have come and gone and told you.
Now you may not believe; that your right. But that doesn’t make it correct to be in active Gay relationships.
Mike, if you think being gay is wrong, then you need to be taking that up with God the creator. We mere humans had nothing to do with our sexual orientations.
Oh, and since you’re on this website reading and commenting, you clearly have some homosexual inclinations yourself. Otherwise, you’d mind your own business and let everyone else mind theirs.
James,
Mike is right and you are wrong. A man who isn’t sexually attracted to women has something wrong with him. Your sexual attraction to men has clouded your judgement.
To James,
I told you truth; that was my job.
If you choose listen, well and good. If you choose to ignore. That is your choice. We all have choices and we have to live with them. Eternally.
Let it not be said; that you did not receive the truth. You did.
And that is all.
Mike.
Religion truly is poison. Sad “sheeple” need it to handle adversity in life and we all suffer because of their delusions.
@Mike and Mantronikk–Listen up.
This article, from a newspaper aimed at LGBT readership, is clearly about discriminatory practices at a gym. It is not about your religious views. Nobody here cares. So the question is clear as to why you are preaching on this forum. Not eveyone is religious and those who are do not all share your beliefs. Case in point-Jesus, a Prophet, accepted everyone as God’s children, especially all those that organized religion cast away, from the beggar to the prostitute to anyone else in between. So with that said, take YOUR beliefs and preach to YOUR constituents within the confines of YOUR own church. This is not Westboro it is the Dallas Voice!
@Rafael
As I stated in reply to James. I simply told the truth. Nothing else.
Jesus(PBUH) accepted everyone; but he did not condone their actions. He didn’t pimp the women, he did not run organized begging. He accepted them and preached to them. He did not consider them outcasts and not to be preached and taught the right way. If you reading that he told women it was right to sell their bodies. I need to see that bible.
Also many gays say you straight people do fornication and adultery and that is forbidden as well. And I agree. I was pointing all these actions are wrong. Doing gay acts is like fornication, adultery.
I simply stated the truth and you and everyone can choose to listen or ignore. My duty is to tell the truth.
You have free choice. Take it or leave it. I fulfilled my job as a believer.
Are you kidding me?? Not listening—
Whether you agree with it or not, being gay is NOT like adultery or fornication. Totally different concepts. Look it up–no not in YOUR bible, in the dictionary. Next thing you will say that we were all created and not evolved. JohnB is right–you are delusional. Before I came out I used to go to church and if I had a dollar for every guy who preached he was “straight” or “hetero married monogomous” I would be rich. Read the headlines for those who preach as you do and then turn. Further, I never said Jesus pimped anyone or started any beggar organizations. He accepted and did not PREACH at them or judge them or get on a gay website like you are doing here. Save YOUR one-sided versions of YOUR truth and opinions for those who care. We choose to leave it. Goodbye and Dismissed!
@Rafael.
Jesus(PBUH) was a prophet. What do Prophet do; they preach. The rich Jewish community had their own separate temple system; they did not allow the poor to participate; limited access and charging money for social services i.e marriage ceremony, bar mitzvah, the services of the mohel. The poor and the disenfranchised jews were priced out of the religious system. Jesus(PBUH) came to them as a Rabbi & Prophet and preached as well as preformed religious services for them. What kind of Prophet does not preach? He kept the commandments. He lived by them.
And if you say you saw several straight man doing gay acts or committing adultery. They were in the wrong. Their wrong does not make your wrong right.
I have no problem with evolution, evolution is a natural process. We created by God, God could use whatever process he wanted or have us created after. He is God. Read about punctuated evolution. They have discovered some species evolved a certain way within a very short time span within a decade.
It’s like I could bake a cake and its cooks about an hour; and magically create one out thin air. How can you tell either one apart? You couldn’t. So we evolved or we didn’t it doesn’t matter.
Either way we are here. And that is the truth.
The Truth shall set you free brother.
Let no one say on day of judgement we were not told the truth.
All this religious nonsense is nothing more than a distraction. Everyone stay focused and ignore these people. They have a right to their opinion – as do we. But, don’t allow them to deter you from your rights. Stay focused.
Toby, you have rights.
I support your right a human being. Not as a gay married couple. If they refused you the right to use gym b/c you are gay. That is wrong. Thats your choice to be gay. You have that choice. They can give pamphlet explaining why thats wrong and that’s it. Pretty much what I was doing.
But they simply said; you can’t come on the family package. Its the same thing the IRS says to all gays married couples.
You want rights that not given to you. US Federal Government has said gays can NOT get marriage rights under the law. Also I didn’t see where Texas passed the Gay Marriage Act?
So Under State and Federal Law the owners were correct in their dealings.
We can accept gays as people and live under tolerance. However, we don’t have to actively support and give financial incentive to this such behavior. It is not in the interest of US Federal Govt to encourage in support the extinction of the human race.
Mike, you have GOT to be joking. The extinction of the human race? Jeez…did you drop out of school in the 5th grade?
The world population is at an all time high. Roughly 75% of the world population lives in some form of poverty because the planet cannot support the population. And you’re worried about extinction?
I would suggest you think on a higher level, like perhaps this might be nature’s way of mediating and leveling off the growing world population before the human race really DOES become extinct, but…well, no offense, but I don’t think you’re capable of thinking on that level.
Get real. The city council can do only so much until the state changes is definition of marriage. So far as membership is concerned, what you are demanding–and receiving in other places is a discount for a second member. When a lawyer spouts rhetoric,as Wiley does, you know he is pleading to the emotions of the jury because he has neither the law not the facts on is side.
James,
I was talking in theory if everyone became gay or a majority became gay. Human would start to die out.
Yes, roughly 75% of people live in some kind of poverty but thats only because the profiteers come in between and ruin food distribution system.
I’ll give you an example; In Pakistan govt priced and sold wheat it bought from the farmers. Now it was enough to feed all of Pakistan at govt. based rates. Rates in nearby Iran and India, Afghanistan were higher so the middlemen illegally smuggled the all the wheat and bribed the officials in power.
Now there was enough food to go around. But due the dishonesty and greediness of other humans. Many humans suffered.
So we what did we learn the world is plentiful, if we are honest and truthful no one should go hungry.
So what the world is short supply of is honesty and truthfulness.
Moses asked God once; how can you feed all the world. God told Moses break the rock next to you. Moses did and out popped a beatle with a leaf in mouth. The moral of story is by power of God.
I have had no food in the house; no money in checking account. Thinking I don’t get paid till Monday morning. I am to be fasting on water. I prayed walked over to mall. I knew I got free finger food at different places. Wandered around and ran into a buddy who owed me like 20 bucks from long time ago. He remembered and paid up. And I loaded up on eggs, tomatoes, and bread. And survived the weekend. .
Think how much energy it requires to keep a human being alive. Think of it in kilojoules terms. Just keep one human being alive and breathing. All that natural energy. The sun, the air composition, the world turning at an axis and in the correct elliptical path.
Now imagine if all this had be powered by some machine made by humans. It would cost trillions upon trillions and their is no ROI from humanity to God.
Most of us, disobey, lazy, selfish and ungrateful. Ridicule the truths self evident in nature.
God asks how many of my gifts will you deny?
I pray for forgiveness and guidance to the right path and speak the truth
For the truth with set you free Brother James.
Ah. Now I understand, Mike. If everyone was gay, the human race would die out. Gotcha. 100%.
But that still leaves the issue as to why the committed gay couple of 23 years can’t join the health club as a family. Why don’t you give that some thought and get back to me.
Hi james,
Ok I will explain. First of all they are gay couple. A regular hetro couple living in sin doesn’t get the discount either or they should NOT if they do.
2ndly, You have to married by the eyes of law. Law does not recognize gays as married. They could be togather 100 years or apart 100 years. It doesn’t matter.
My third point, why should mainstream society give marriage benefits to class of people they people they believe a commit a wrong act. Marriage is a scared institution; society values as man and woman. Not man and man or woman and woman. We value marriage and we offer benefits for it. When gays ask for heterosexual benefits; we ask why.. you aren’t heterosexual?
We give you rights as a human being but not our benefits as a married heterosexual couple. .
Its like Mexican sitting in Baja asking for social security unemployment benefits from the US. When he has never worked in the US or even if there.
Now do you think that is fair?
I am not preventing you from being gay or even saying you should be discriminated against because you are gay.
Why should a group of single people pay more than a group of gay couples?
Single people don’t complain or have protest when married hetro people get benefits. They know they can join that group some day.
You can too if you reverse your choice to be gay.
James, I would like you think an ponder on the Truth of God and his Oneness. He made you Gay. That is your burden to bear. Every Human being has some burden to bear. Some is heavier than others. We have to be patient and wait. Some have to wait for the final reward. And believe brother it will come and if you are patient and pray for guidance and repent. They reward will be beyond your imagination.
It is said on the day of judgement. God will the man who had the worst life and for a moment put him in heaven. Then bring him out and ask have you ever suffered and the man will say no.
The man had the easiest of lives and least of burdens will put in hell for a moment. This man will be asked have you ever know happiness and that will say no.
So Br. James. Think, ponder, repent and pray for guidance. The reward will be well worth denying yourself these abominable acts.
And lead yourself straight. Don’t look at the hypocrites who preach for money and fame and commit sins in the corner. They will burn forever for their sins. Why should you follow them?
Go in peace and with God.
Oh brother…what’s the use.
Whackadoo.
It was about a year ago that I was in physical therapy treatment for my back pain at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas.
After my formal PT was completed, I recieved an additional script for swimming at Baylor. I also inquired about a membership and was told that my wife would not qualify under their family policy. I advised the staff that I have a legal marriage certificate from Canada, and that we are also registered in Austin as legal domestic partners. In addition, I am on my wife’s medical policy and that is what paid for all of my treatment at Baylor. They said that they were a Christian organization and that that was their policy.
We were very welcomed at the YMCA on Greenville Ave just south of Forest.
Michelle Glime & Randa Hope
What a bunch of hypocrites. “Christian?” Yet they are turning people away. That is about as UN-Christian as you can get. Heaven (n): a place where the Baptists drink in front of each other. Jeez…
James
They are NOT Hypocrites. They treated her. They did not refuse to treat but again James; why should she get benefits of regular heterosexual married couple?
All religions say acting out gay acts is wrong. Gays are tolerated not accepted. Christians and all Believers believe in tolerance but we can’t accept the sin. We can NOT condone something we don’t believe in.
Why should you ask to that?
Why should you come to my Christian, Muslim, Jewish Organizations and demand benefits?
We give to them to who confirm to our beliefs. Form your own Gay Irreligous health Clubs etc. They did not refuse treat you; only said we don’t recognize your gay marriage and we not going to support by giving benefits toward it.
Why is that so hard to understand James? You are not accepted in mainstream society. You are merely tolerated. 99 percent of the human race is not gay. Most place around the world; you Gays get beat up, killed or worse. While I don’t agree with doing all that. Its your choice and we can NOT interfere with choice unless it harms us. However we do not support your choice, how can a believer support someone’s act of sin?
We can love the sinner but not the sin. Remember that. So when she wants benefits for being in sinful relationship? How can any Christian in his right mind justify that?
Mike, I wasn’t referring to HER, I was referring to the couple who are the subject of this article. Furthermore, you keep repeating yourself, saying nothing new. You are simply rearranging the words you have already written, as if you are making some profound new pronouncement. Since you are not contributing anything of substance to this discussion (you have yet to raise a single valid point for discussion, and some of your points are just plain false), maybe it’s time for you to drop out.
James,
You haven’t even considered any my points and just call the false.
points all valid
1. NO one is discriminating them for being gay.
2. All that happened it they didn’t get the married discount.
3. Gay marriage is not a recognized
form of marriage by any religious or religious affiliated organization.. (except a for few fringe elements)
Also not recognized by the State of Texas or the U.S. Federal govt.
4. A marriage discount is a benefit to encourage family atmosphere and encourage families to join.
5. This place does NOT deny services to gays; simply are saying we will not give the preferential discount we give regular heterosexual couples. Single people or even roommates don’t get discounts.
6. My last point is for gay married couple to demand a preferential discount is wrong. Because this religious affiliated institution; for your monetary benefits they should give up their beliefs? because if they apply the discount to gay married couples they are tacitly admitted gay marriage is valid. Which they don’t agree with.
Respond the points and prove them false…
@Mike–you have raised no new issues, merely repeated yourself. Therefore there is nothing new on which I or anyone else can comment.
James,
Not fair I listened and logically responded to each of your arguments… and you never considered any of mine responded issue via issue.
You have no defense this means.
You are the creation of God and as am I. We all will answer for our actions and lives. I hope that you will see the truth one day.
Peace.
Mike