ROANOKE, VIRGINIA – The Roanoke Athletic Club (RAC) announced a change in its policy last week, after being sued by a same-sex couple who claim the gym revoked their “family membership” after initially offering it. In June, Will Trinkle, 54, a real estate agent, and his partner Juan Granados, 40, a marketing manager, filed suit against the club for breach of contract. They also were seeking to have their family membership reinstated.
The couple has been together for eight years, and they have a 2-year-old son, Oliver. Their lawsuit claimed that the RAC discriminated against them because they are gay. On Thursday, July 5, the club reversed its policy, posting on Facebook, “A household consists of a primary member and up to one additional household member that permanently lives in the household, and any of their dependent children under the age of 22 who also reside in the household on a permanent basis.” The post added that “Club dues will not change; dues for the Household Membership will be the same as the Family Membership it is replacing.”
Trinkle says he applied for a gym membership on May 15, and signed up for the “family” plan.
The couple listed the “member name” (Trinkle), “spouse name” (Granados), and “dependent child” (Oliver Trinkle Granados). They used the membership for a week, but on May 23 Trinkle was told that they did not qualify for a family membership, which was open at the time to a “husband, wife, and their children ages 21 and younger living at home.”