Dueling protesters clash outside Koreatown spa over transgender rights
Apparently, the incident happened last weekend and was posted to social media, which prompted protesters to show up yesterday.
The owners of the spa say they were just following state law.
Violence breaks out over trans rights at Koreatown spa | KTLA
There was one video showing a guy yelling "Jesus hates everyone! Jesus hates everyone!"
Life in these United States.
Dueling protesters clashed outside a Koreatown spa Saturday over a recent incident involving transgender rights, prompting Los Angeles police in riot gear to be dispatched to the scene.
Police ordered the crowd to disperse after fights broke out between the two groups in front of Wi Spa in the 2700 block of Wilshire Boulevard about 1:45 p.m., according to police and videos posted on Twitter and other social media.
“Demonstrators have now cleared the scene,” Officer Mike Lopez of the Los Angeles Police Department told City News Service. “Pretty much everyone complied with the order to leave.”
The demonstrations were apparently spurred by an incident that occurred last weekend at the spa. An irate customer posted a video on Instagram under the name Cubana Angel and it quickly went viral.
Apparently, the incident happened last weekend and was posted to social media, which prompted protesters to show up yesterday.
The woman in the video complains to staff at Wi Spa that a man had walked into the women’s section and showed his genitals to young girls, according to the video posted on the social media platform. The customer the woman complained about reportedly identified as a woman.
“He is a man,” the woman can be heard saying. “He is not a female. There are girls down there, other women who are highly offended by what they just saw and you did nothing. You sided with him.”
Wi Spa defended its policy in a statement to Los Angeles Magazine.
“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 meet the needs of all its customers.”
Protesters opposed to the spa’s policy demonstrated in front of the building early Saturday but were met by counter-demonstrators holding a “No Bigotry in L.A.” rally. Members of each group then began fighting with each other and police were dispatched to the scene.
The owners of the spa say they were just following state law.
Violence breaks out over trans rights at Koreatown spa | KTLA
Demonstrations over transgender rights sparked clashes between protestors and counter-protestors in Koreatown on Saturday after a video went viral of a woman upset that a trans woman disrobed in the women’s section of a popular spa.
Footage of the encounter between the two sides showed people shoving each other, attempting to take away protests signs and throwing objects like eggs.
One side was heard yelling things like “Go home trans-phobe” and the other saying “save our children.”
The video that sparked the protest shows the upset woman speaking to employees at Wi Spa, located at at 2700 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles’ Koreatown neighborhood.
The woman asks an employee why the spa allows a person who identifies as a woman but has male genitalia to be exposed in the women’s section of the spa when there are underage girls in the room.
“He is a man,” the woman says repeatedly. “He is not a female, sweetie. … There are girls down there, other women, who are highly offended (by) what they just saw and you did nothing. Absolutely nothing. In fact, you sided with him.”
The Wi Spa employee defends the trans client. As a crowd gathers, another client also confronts the woman, defending the trans client.
“There ain’t no such thing as transgender,” the woman continues.
In a statement, Wi Spa said it is complying with California law prohibiting discrimination, citing the statute.
“California law prohibits discrimination against transgender and gender non-conforming people in business establishments,” the spa stated.
“Like many other metropolitan areas, Los Angeles contains a transgender population, some of whom enjoy visiting a spa,” the statement continued. “Wi Spa strives to meet the needs and safety of all of its customers, and does not tolerate harassment or lewd conduct by any customer, regardless of their sex, gender, or other characteristic.”
On Saturday, videos circulating on social media showed the violence that erupted between the two sides after a protest was called outside the spa.
The Los Angeles Police Department responded to the scene but said no arrests were made. Videos showed officers calling for protesters to disperse.
A total of five people were injured in the commotion: Three subject to assault and battery, while two were assaulted with a deadly weapon, according to police.
There was one video showing a guy yelling "Jesus hates everyone! Jesus hates everyone!"
Life in these United States.