Macon Reporter

Rep. Adam Niemerg spoke out against the Springfield YMCA, saying that the organization has refused to shed light on an incident in a locker room. The Springfield YMCA says it is following state law, but there have been allegations of a man in the female locker room this summer.

"Men use men’s restrooms, end of story!" Niemerg said. "Springfield YMCA continues to stonewall any investigation into this matter and just wants the story to go away. That is unacceptable!"

A June 9 report from ABC20 says that Springfield YMCA is defending itself after members accused them of allowing a man into a women’s locker room. The news outlet reported: “The allegation was a full-grown man undressing in the female locker room at the Kerasotes YMCA in Springfield. The YMCA denies the incident happened. “Any report of this nature would have been documented and reported to authorities for investigation," the YMCA said in a statement.”

On July 13, WANDTV reported that a 16-year-old girl was kicked off the YMCA swim team in Springfield after going to their coach and telling him there was a man in the women’s locker room. She told the outlet she did not see the individual naked, to counter the rumors that she was flashed by that person in the locker room. The YMCA did nothing to address her concerns, so a teammate posted signs in the locker room, which read “biological women only” and “women’s rights” and then the teen who reported the incident to her swim coach was told to leave practice for “hate speech.”

Niemerg shared a link to a Center Square article that focused on a statement from the Illinois Freedom Caucus and the YMCA response. It says: " After raising the issue several weeks ago, the Illinois Freedom Caucus, which consists of downstate Republican lawmakers, issued a statement calling out the YMCA for being deceptive. "Instead of protecting themselves and their outrageous policies that allow biological males in the girls' locker room, we call on the YMCA to do the right thing and protect the girls in their care by not allowing biological males in the women's locker room," the statement reads. "It is time for the YMCA to stop spreading lies and misinformation about [the swimmer]and her family and to apologize for their gross negligence and failure to protect young girls." In response, Lou Bart, the YMCA's marketing and communications director, told The Center Square there is no issue.”