Transgender womans use of a gym locker room spurs protests and investigations in Missouri [Video]

ST. LOUIS (AP) – A transgender woman’s use of the women’s locker room in a suburban St. Louis gym prompted a protest, a plan for a boycott and calls for an investigation by the state’s Republican attorney general, who quickly obliged.

The woman joined the gym Sunday, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

By Friday morning, a Republican state lawmaker had held a news conference outside the gym, and protesters gathered to criticize the fitness center, according to the newspaper.

“I have been contacted by a lot of people,” Rep. Justin Sparks told The Associated Press on Friday. He held the news conference but said he did not organize protesters. Sparks represents a House district neighboring the gym.