“A transgender woman’s use of the women’s locker room at an Ellisville fitness center has drawn an outcry from a state lawmaker, who is asking for investigations, and other conservatives who took to social media to voice outrage.

“There’s no indication that Eris Montano, 52, of Chesterfield, has violated any laws or the polices of Life Time fitness center.

“But state Rep. Justin Sparks, R-Wildwood, said he’s heard enough complaints from constituents that he’s calling for investigations and holding a press conference Friday outside the gym.”

“Montano has been a daily gym-goer at Life Time since joining Sunday. She said in an interview with the Post-Dispatch that she met with the general manager on Sunday because she wanted to know the center’s policies regarding transgender members.

“Montano said she began transitioning about two years ago and has been taking medications for the past 12 months.

“She said she has largely had positive interactions with other gym members. She met with a personal trainer, swims in the facility’s pool and uses the cardio workout equipment. Many people have gone out of their way to make her feel welcome, she said.

“The lone exception, she said, was a confrontation with a woman in the center’s sauna on Monday.

“’She kept telling me that I was a man, that I didn’t belong there,’ Montano recalled.”

“Natalie Bushaw, a spokesperson for Life Time, said the center recognizes ‘that there are varying opinions regarding locker room access. As a company, we are committed to following the law in every area we operate with respect to public accommodation.’”

“Ellisville Police Capt. Andy Vaughn said the department is not investigating.

“’To my knowledge, no law has been broken,’ he said.”

“Sparks said he wants the Missouri Department of Revenue to investigate how, and when, Montano’s driver’s license was changed.”

“He said he also reached out to Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey for an investigation. Bailey’s office did not respond to interview requests.

“Sparks on Thursday posted a nearly six-minute video on Facebook voicing his complaints. In response to Sparks and others on social media, some Life Time users said they were canceling their memberships and encouraged others to boycott the center, saying it needed ‘the Bud Light treatment,’ referring to the backlash the beer brand received after a promotion involving Dylan Mulvaney, a transgender woman.

“Montano on Facebook referenced the press conference Sparks is planning, saying a ‘mob of hateful people’ would appear to ‘show me how much they hate me for existing as a trans woman with rights.’”