Opening 

Join us in urgently demanding an end to the blatant discrimination at Pilsen’s Gym, where Black, fat, nonbinary, trans and queer individuals have faced mistreatment by management. Pilsen’s Gym Management (Leticia Phillips & Arletha Thompson) are using Trump's discriminatory executive orders to excuse their dismissal of LGBTQIA+ members' rights, safety and comfort. 

They've disregarded the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA) which explicitly prohibits discrimination in public accommodations based on various protected characteristics, including race, gender and sexual orientation. Specifically, Section 5-102 of the IHRA states that it is a civil rights violation for any person to deny or refuse another the full and equal enjoyment of the facilities and services of any public place of accommodation. 
 
Now, more than ever, it is imperative that we speak out against all forms of injustice – lest we be doomed to living in a world where these acts continue to be normalized. Together, we can stand up for justice, equality and respect for all members of our community.   
 
Issue Summary  

• Over the past few years, Pilsen’s Gym members and guests have reported numerous incidents of discrimination, mistreatment and negligence by management. These actions, among others, have created a hostile and unwelcoming environment for community members:  
   
  Making inappropriate comments about members’ bodies, ie:  
  saying a member “looks hung” and is a “waste of a man” for being Queer & shaming a member for “having a lot of body”. 
   
  Telling a member they have “good hair” unlike most Black people and ridiculing people for "talking Black".  
   
  Intentionally addressing some members/guests using the wrong pronouns, especially non-binary members who they’ve publicly referred to as “he...she” despite being corrected by other members.  
  Charging members full price throughout the Covid lockdown order, although they’d closed and weren’t responding to cancellation requests.  
   
  Denying a non-binary member access to the single-stall restroom, within the front office, that had previously been accessible to them and used as the backup restroom for the entire gym.  

Further, on January 29, 2025, the non-binary member who’d been refused access to the single-stall restroom was confronted by Arletha, in Leticia’s presence, and told to choose one locker room “so the members in that locker room can be familiar with you.” Shortly after that conversation, the member followed up in-person and via email to: 1) formally refuse their demand & 2) request a follow up conversation to address the discrimination. Leticia shared she would follow up by February 4th and proceeded to avoid speaking to or making eye contact with the member at the gym for over a week. When the member followed up in person, once again, Leticia said she would respond within the next 45 minutes. Leticia did not follow up and proceeded to meet with another member. Weeks later, she proceeded to gaslight the complainant, stating she’d never heard of any complaints at her gym. This is a blatant lie as evidenced by the descriptive 1-star and 2-star Google reviews and witnesses’ comments about how Leticia rebranded Pilsen’s Fitness Center as Pilsen’s Gym to escape accountability for the former’s management issues.  
 
It has been over a month since the above complaints were raised and, rather than addressing them directly, Leticia and Arletha shared Trump’s executive orders will shield them from having to treat all members with dignity. 

 
In light of these events, we are seeking justice by demanding that Pilsen’s Gym:  

• Publicly release a statement taking accountability for Leticia Phillips & Arletha Thompson’s pattern of harmful behavior towards members & guests.  
   
  Establish, post and distribute community agreements to ensure all members and guests’ safety is considered.  
   
  Implement gender-inclusive policies, including documenting & respecting people’s pronouns and designating the single-stall restroom as a gender-neutral option.  

If Pilsen’s Gym does not adequately address these demands within 14 business days, we will:  

• Escalate these concerns with all city & state agencies dedicated to Illinois residents’ civil rights, ie. The Illinois Department of Human Rights.  
   
  File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.  
   
  Partner with human rights advocacy organizations to launch a public awareness campaign dedicated to i) addressing Pilsen’s Gym’s history of discrimination & ii) educating community members on their rights and avenues for justice.  

Conclusion: Call to Action  
Thank you for taking time to hear us out. From here, all we ask is that you stand with us by signing this petition and sharing it with your networks via text, email, social media, etc.  Every signature strengthens our message: 

We Will Not Tolerate Discrimination and Those Who Dare to Discriminate Will Answer To Us.