Brooklyn, NY – Orthodox Jewish Woman Files Discrimination Suit Against Gym That Threatened Her With Arrest Over Modest Attire

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    Brooklyn, NY – A 25 year-old Orthodox Jewish woman from Crown Heights has filed a religious discrimination lawsuit in Manhattan federal court claiming she was threatened with arrest and had her membership revoked by a local gym for observing her religious dictates and dressing modestly while working out.

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    NYPOST.com (http://bit.ly/1JJgu2B) reports that Yosefa Jalal, who, according to court papers, “observes the Jewish rules of modesty,” claims she joined the women-only fitness chain Lucille Roberts in 2011 and started working out wearing modest clothing—including skirts, tights and long sleeves—at several of the chain’s Brooklyn locations without incident.

    However, at the gym’s Kings Highway location in 2013, and once again the following year, Yosefa was told she could no longer wear a skirt if she wanted to continue to use the facilities.

    After switching to Lucille Roberts’ Flatbush Avenue location, Jalal was subsequently confronted by a manager who threatened her with arrest on trespassing charges for “inappropriate attire” due to her skirt.

    Shortly thereafter Jalal was informed that her membership had been revoked.

    Jalal’s lawyer called the gym’s actions “completely indefensible.”

    An attorney for Lucille Roberts declined comment.


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    35 Comments
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    8 years ago

    While the gym is totally wrong and discriminatory and will hopefully be made to pay a large sum for their actions, what is the problem halachically with a woman wearing gym clothes in front of other women????

    Nycnyc
    Nycnyc
    8 years ago

    Sue their pants off.

    Proud_To_Be_American
    Proud_To_Be_American
    8 years ago

    The Gym is SKIRTing the law.

    mythoughts
    mythoughts
    8 years ago

    I’m not sure what tznius has to do with her modest dress at an all women’s gym. That’s not halacha.

    54321
    54321
    8 years ago

    Kol hakovod. She is an example to girls of today who unfortunately are becoming more and more lax in modest dress, a foundation preserving Jewish purit and safeguarding against assimilation.

    PowerUp
    PowerUp
    8 years ago

    There is always more to those stories.

    8 years ago

    Probably their defense will be that her long skirt is hazard and can get caught in the treadmill and other equipment. May she be MATZLIACH in her lawsuit!

    md2205
    md2205
    8 years ago

    I have worn whatever I wanted, including skirts, and seen other women working out only in skirts in the Lucille Roberts on Fulton Street in Brooklyn. I was always treated respectfully there. I also went to the Flatbush Avenue site and wore whatever I wanted and they never said anything to me. I was always treated well. I guess it is only that particular Kings Highway site that is troublesome. I never went there. I think Lucille Roberts is a franchise and each site has its own owner or manager.

    Flatbusher1
    Flatbusher1
    8 years ago

    Anyone who goes to that gym knows that the reason they don’t allow skirts is for safety concerns. If it gets caught in machines or someone trips during a class the gym is liable for damages. I have been going to both those locations for more years than I can remember and have always been treated with respect . We need to start following rules and stop antagonizing the locals!!!!!

    anon1m0us
    anon1m0us
    8 years ago

    Bogus lawsuit.

    The gym is ONLY for women so her modest clothing is not required.

    In addition, loose clothing provides a risk.

    Shimon
    Shimon
    8 years ago

    The charges will be reduced. They should be put in prison…or rather cellutiles.

    Flatbusher1
    Flatbusher1
    8 years ago

    I go to both these gyms and have always been treated with respect. They have policies and rules just like anyplace else. If someone trips or their skirt gets caught in machines the gym is liable for damages. Either follow their rules or go excersiZe somewhere else at your own risk!

    hershel
    hershel
    8 years ago

    Sexual discrimination as well.

    leahle
    leahle
    8 years ago

    I understand not permitting a longer skirt. Exercise equipment can be extremely dangerous and you definitely do not want to wear loose clothing that can be caught in the equipment. That being said, there is exercise clothing that is skirt-like that would probably be safe and acceptable, such as capris with attached skirts, tennis skirts, running skirts, etc. These “skirts” would not be modest by themselves in public as they are quite short. However, in the context of a women-only gym and worn with leggings, they should be fine (I am assuming that she wants to wear a skirt not so much for modesty but because her personal practice is to never wear only pants ).

    CountryYossi
    CountryYossi
    8 years ago

    If she needs to wear a skirt according to her religion why does she go to a gym which is mixed?
    I am a member in yeled vyalda gym and the rule calls foe sneakers only on the thread mill or other machines.
    Maybe this gym has a policy against skirts due to safety?
    Lets not jump to conclusion before we hear from the corporate office.
    Dont count your $$ yet

    8 years ago

    If her long skirt got caught in the machine, it could strangle her. The directions even state not to wear long scarves or anything that can get caught. The gym is 100% correct. This has nothing to do with being antisemitic. Duh

    circle
    circle
    8 years ago

    Just register with a Moslem name and you’ll be left alone.

    savtat
    savtat
    8 years ago

    The gym in my Y, which is shomer Shabbos, asked me to leave when I was on a bike with my long skirt. I didn’t realize that they required pants only. I left without making a fuss. It is a safety rule, I can comply, or work out somewhere else.

    It is not discrimination if there is a reason for the rule, especially a safety rule.

    cbdds
    cbdds
    8 years ago

    A few years ago I went to several Bally’s locations in Brooklyn. I am not that much of an athlete and wanted to focus on some small area, not working up a sweat. I did not change into what was considered apropriate gear. At one location I was told that next time I need to be changed. At a location on Flatbush Avenue in an African-American neighborhood I was berated by fellow clients. I asked the manager for help and he sided with them and asked me to leave. I later verified that the only rules that apply pertain to using rubber soled shoes, anything else was racism.

    8 years ago

    First of all, it is *not* a mixed gym (read the article). Second, the last time I looked, skirts don’t go around the neck, so I don’t understand how one could get strangled if the skirt caught in a machine. The thing that doesn’t make sense is the trespassing threat. Most chain gyms have agreements with others in the same chain to allow all members use of their facilities. I think more information is needed.

    njmom
    njmom
    8 years ago

    She didn’t wear a long skirt. It was until her knees. Do they have a policy against wearing loose/ baggy basketball shorts also? Can’t that also get stuck in equipment? It’s the same length. I think this was discrimination. If they’re so worried about skirts and gym equipment they can force you to sign waivers for wearing a skirt, just like you sign your life away skiing or boating.

    mewhoze
    mewhoze
    8 years ago

    perhaps they can nicely explain that skirts longer than knee length are dangerous and could get caught in the machinery. id rather see someone covering up a bit more than letting it all hang out

    OYVY2
    OYVY2
    8 years ago

    stop jumping the anti semite float. it is dangerous to wear the long skirts that brush the floor and can get caught in machines. if that would happen everyone would say, they should have a rule that you can’t wear clothing that can be hazardous