Several local agencies met Monday morning to address community concerns regarding a mid-October incident involving a transgender individual using the women’s locker room at the Litehouse YMCA.  

Officials from the city of Sandpoint, the Lake Pend Oreille School District, the YMCA and District 1 Sen. Jim Woodward, R-Sagle, met to discuss community concerns relating to appropriate locker room usage at the YMCA.  

In a Monday press release, Woodward said Idaho law requires students to use locker rooms and bathrooms that are consistent with their gender at birth. However, Woodward noted that federal anti-discrimination law may contradict what’s written in Idaho statute. Due to this, the U.S. Supreme Court is slated to discuss the issue in upcoming months. At the time of publishing, a hearing time has not been set.  

Idaho Code additionally requires LPOSD to supervise students when utilizing YMCA facilities, making sure males and females use the locker room aligned with their biological gender.  

“In collaboration with YMCA staff, LPOSD also supervises locker room entrances while students utilize them, to ensure no one other than students are allowed to enter. It is important to the district that parents know student safety continues to be the top priority,” said Woodward in the press release. “I am relieved that student safety is already being addressed by LPOSD and the YMCA. We will navigate the remaining legal issues as quickly as possible."   

Sandpoint Mayor Jeremy Grimm said the city is taking the matter seriously, and is working closely with the YMCA, LPSOD and state officials to bring clarity and resolution to the issue.  

“This issue involves complex intersections of federal and state law, and it will take time to ensure we handle it properly,” Grimm said. “My priority is to protect our community, reduce division and keep Sandpoint focused on practical, lawful solutions. Sandpoint is a caring and respectful community, and I’m confident we can navigate this.”

Communication between the entities stems from an Oct. 15 incident, when YMCA lifeguard Jennifer Hook shared posted on social media about her encounter with a male in the women’s locker room while she was doing locker room checks.   

“I encountered a biological male using the women’s locker room facilities. I immediately reported this to management, expecting that safety and privacy protocols would be followed. Instead, I was informed that this situation was permitted under YMCA policy, citing gender identity protections under Idaho and city of Sandpoint codes,” shared Hook in an open letter to the Sandpoint community and YMCA of the Inland Northwest.   

Hook further shared on social media her encounter with the male, identifying him as having a “male chest” and a distinct male voice.   

Concerns were quickly raised about females and students utilizing the YMCA facility, with Hook and other citizens showing concerns of safety, protection and dignity.

When asked about the incident, YMCA officials stated that an internal review was conducted relating to procedures and local law, finding that the locker room usage was consistent with Sandpoint law “which allows an individual to use the locker room that aligns with their gender identity.”  

The YMCA, along with other businesses in Sandpoint, is required to follow city code. 

YMCA officials told the Bonner County Daily Bee that there are several measures put in place to create a safe environment, including continuous sex offender registry checks for all members and guests, mandated reporting of abuse and incidents and child abuse prevention training for all staff and high-access volunteers.