Women Outraged: Democrats Ignore Safety As Locker Rooms Become Battlegrounds

Paul Riverbank, 12/10/2025Debate intensifies as singer Tish Hyman and athletes challenge policies on women’s spaces and sports, raising urgent questions about safety, fairness, and inclusion amid evolving laws and public opinion.

The details paint a charged picture. Hyman, who says she was expelled from her gym for raising these concerns, recounted not only her own distress but also that of other women—many of whom, she claims, were ignored after making repeated complaints about one individual in particular: Alexis Black. Allegations against Black are serious, with reports circulating of a past so violent it led to reconstructive surgery for his ex-wife and a change of name following gender transition. “Multiple women and I have repeatedly made written reports… the gym staff has done absolutely nothing!” Hyman posted in frustration.

That frustration boiled over in her exchange with Rep. Khanna. She referenced his public support for self-identification policies, particularly his cautionary Supreme Court brief warning of “invasive general checks” if restrictions were implemented. Yet, Hyman challenged the premise: “In 26 states where these laws exist, there’s no evidence of such checks. But here, under current California law, women are on the receiving end of actual harassment.” Her words—pointed, raw, insistent—demanded an answer not just for herself, but for other women who feel overlooked.

Khanna took a careful stance, expressing sympathy but sticking to his message. “If someone is harassing, they must be prosecuted. That’s a separate issue from the right of a trans woman to access a facility she identifies with," he said. He emphasized the importance of distinguishing between the individual’s alleged violence and broader legal protections—a response reflecting the difficulty lawmakers have in balancing inclusion with safety.

Yet Hyman refused to let the issue rest there. She distanced herself from any political party and spoke directly to the gathering: “This isn’t about being Democrat or Republican. It’s about being a woman who was harassed.” Her challenge was as much to her own side of the political aisle as to the other—“It’s the Democrats that need to do something about this law," she pressed, raising issues she says are too often discussed behind closed doors.

It isn’t just locker rooms where questions of fairness and safety have hit the public square. Beyond California, the controversies have touched elite sports as well. At a recent event with Piers Morgan, Aryna Sabalenka—a powerhouse on the tennis court with four Grand Slam titles—reflected on the matter. “I think it’s just not fair to women to face biological men on the court.” Nick Kyrgios, not known for mincing words, quickly agreed. And those opinions are not outliers: Martina Navratilova, a legend in her own right, has long maintained the need for integrity in women’s competition, warning of the consequences if concerns are dismissed.

Sports promoters are grappling with these tensions in their own way. Tony Khan of AEW and ROH gets personal about it: “Having more women’s championships and matches has been fantastic. The depth in women’s wrestling just keeps growing.” For Khan, ensuring women have their own stage isn’t a concession—it’s a commitment to developing their talent and giving room for the kind of safe, fair opportunity that fans and athletes alike demand.

What’s clear is that across town halls, locker rooms, and major sporting events, lines are being drawn—and redrawn. For every story like Hyman’s, there are others asking for inclusion, for dignity, for equal access. The challenge for policymakers isn’t theoretical; it sits uncomfortably in the realm of the real, with emotions raw and answers rarely neat.

One thing, though, remains certain: the drive for fairness—whether in the locker room or on the championship stage—shows no sign of fading. The debates continue, as they should, with the hope that policy can eventually reflect the complexities women and girls live every day.

On a hot evening at a bustling Los Angeles town hall, the mood shifted sharply when singer Tish Hyman took the microphone. What unfolded wasn’t a simple Q&A; it was Hyman’s determined pushback against Rep. Ro Khanna—a public confrontation resonating well outside the room. Hyman, candid about her identity as a lesbian and her frustration as a gym member, pulled no punches. Her protest against men being allowed in women’s locker rooms, a policy she says let harassment occur unchecked, has ricocheted through social media.The details paint a charged picture. Hyman, who says she was expelled from her gym for raising these concerns, recounted not only her own distress but also that of other women—many of whom, she claims, were ignored after making repeated complaints about one individual in particular: Alexis Black. Allegations against Black are serious, with reports circulating of a past so violent it led to reconstructive surgery for his ex-wife and a change of name following gender transition. “Multiple women and I have repeatedly made written reports… the gym staff has done absolutely nothing!” Hyman posted in frustration.That frustration boiled over in her exchange with Rep. Khanna. She referenced his public support for self-identification policies, particularly his cautionary Supreme Court brief warning of “invasive general checks” if restrictions were implemented. Yet, Hyman challenged the premise: “In 26 states where these laws exist, there’s no evidence of such checks. But here, under current California law, women are on the receiving end of actual harassment.” Her words—pointed, raw, insistent—demanded an answer not just for herself, but for other women who feel overlooked.Khanna took a careful stance, expressing sympathy but sticking to his message. “If someone is harassing, they must be prosecuted. That’s a separate issue from the right of a trans woman to access a facility she identifies with," he said. He emphasized the importance of distinguishing between the individual’s alleged violence and broader legal protections—a response reflecting the difficulty lawmakers have in balancing inclusion with safety.Yet Hyman refused to let the issue rest there. She distanced herself from any political party and spoke directly to the gathering: “This isn’t about being Democrat or Republican. It’s about being a woman who was harassed.” Her challenge was as much to her own side of the political aisle as to the other—“It’s the Democrats that need to do something about this law," she pressed, raising issues she says are too often discussed behind closed doors.It isn’t just locker rooms where questions of fairness and safety have hit the public square. Beyond California, the controversies have touched elite sports as well. At a recent event with Piers Morgan, Aryna Sabalenka—a powerhouse on the tennis court with four Grand Slam titles—reflected on the matter. “I think it’s just not fair to women to face biological men on the court.” Nick Kyrgios, not known for mincing words, quickly agreed. And those opinions are not outliers: Martina Navratilova, a legend in her own right, has long maintained the need for integrity in women’s competition, warning of the consequences if concerns are dismissed.Sports promoters are grappling with these tensions in their own way. Tony Khan of AEW and ROH gets personal about it: “Having more women’s championships and matches has been fantastic. The depth in women’s wrestling just keeps growing.” For Khan, ensuring women have their own stage isn’t a concession—it’s a commitment to developing their talent and giving room for the kind of safe, fair opportunity that fans and athletes alike demand.What’s clear is that across town halls, locker rooms, and major sporting events, lines are being drawn—and redrawn. For every story like Hyman’s, there are others asking for inclusion, for dignity, for equal access. The challenge for policymakers isn’t theoretical; it sits uncomfortably in the realm of the real, with emotions raw and answers rarely neat.One thing, though, remains certain: the drive for fairness—whether in the locker room or on the championship stage—shows no sign of fading. The debates continue, as they should, with the hope that policy can eventually reflect the complexities women and girls live every day.