Violence Erupts In Los Angeles After Trans Woman Uses Women's Section At Spa

It's been two weeks since a video of women complaining about seeing a transgender woman naked in the women's section of Los Angeles spa Wi Spa hit the internet, leading to a brouhaha that has culminated in violent protests.

According to Koreatown spa Wi Spa's Facebook page, "Both women-only and men-only floors have their own hot and cold baths, dry saunas and steam saunas, as well as treatment rooms. A note of caution: modesty must be checked at the door, as no clothing is worn in these gender-separated areas."

The controversy started after some women complained about seeing a transgender woman, who has not been identified, in the women's section of Wi Spa. When management asked if the subject of the complaint had behaved inappropriately, the women stated they could see the trans woman's genitalia, and that they and two girls present were "traumatized" at the sight.

In a statement, Wi Spa cited California law which makes it illegal to discriminate against transgender people.

"Like many other metropolitan areas, Los Angeles contains a transgender population, some of whom enjoy visiting a spa," the statement said. "Wi Spa strives to follow the law and meet the needs and safety of all of its customers."

The controversy attracted a flurry of angry conservative commentators in a battle that is essentially a different iteration of the transgender bathroom debate. Public safety arguments against letting trans women into female spaces have been reiterated in publications such as Eurweb and the New York Post.

Protestors descended onto the spa over the weekend, where violent scenes broke out. A thread by Vishal P. Singh shows a protestor pulling a gun on his crew and another striking a documentary filmmaker on the head with a blunt object. Police declared the protest an unlawful assembly after the violence erupted, and the protests were disbanded.