ExtremeFitnessForum

extr · Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Posts: 39

I have been really hesitant about saying anything about this problem, because I was afraid that it would scare away the gay clientelle. I can't say that there is any one incident of homophobia that I can point out and say ah-ha, but there has been a definite homophobic vibe from all the new staff at Extreme Fitness. They give "the look" at gays. Maybe they give it to everyone. But there is this definite machismo nose-curling humph from a lot of the personal trainers. I am the kind of guy who is naturally friendly, so I will look at someone, esp new members or staff, and smile, ready to say hello. I've not had such cold and seemingly hateful responses since I lived briefly in a small, rural, homophobic village many years ago! My personal feeling is that they wanted to get rid of all the gays from Oxygen - and there were a lot. A number of my gay friends there have said the same thing, esp during membership renewal, and most have quit the gym. It is very, very uncomfortable. Do they bus in rural jocks for staff? This is not something you see in Toronto much these days. They also closed the sauna, which is not a gay thing, but a social thing. The social atmosphere there now is terrible compared to how it was just even a year ago.

ExtremelyAngry · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 114 Location: Riverdale, Toronto

There is no social atmosphere. There are a bunch of low-rent, no-class $15/month members who don't respect either gym or common etiquette.
I am not gay but I have heard other gay members complain of the same vibe, but not from the staff. From all the new members.

extr · Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Posts: 39

Yes, definitely, the new members seem really homophobic, and unsophisticated. You know, I haven’t seen a mullet on a guy since Achy Breaky Heart, until one of these new $15 sign ups came in to the (now closed!!!!) sauna to talk with his untastefully inked, long-haired friend how he had to break the f***ing face of this f***ing guy who made a f***ing move on his f***ing girlfriend. F***ing A, dude.

These kind of people make everyone uncomfortable, gay, straight, male, female. It makes for the nighmare kind of gym that you do NOT want to go to. It breaks down the social atmosphere.

ExtremelyAngry · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 114 Location: Riverdale, Toronto

What happened was that a community was destroyed.

I used to be on a first-name basis with all the Oxygen staff -- the trainers, the receptionists, the owners, the cleaners, the juice bar guitarist, everybody.

When I came in to workout, I usually had other members to talk to, that I knew from the neighbourhood or even from work, as many Riverdalers are in the arts and media industries.

Once Extreme took over, I felt like a stranger in a strange land.

admin · Site Admin Joined: 20 Jun 2007 Posts: 132

I think you nailed it on the head right there EA. This is exactly the sad part of the takeover. The breakdown and loss of community.

The frustration arises when you realize there was absolutely no reason for them to do this. They could have made a few improvements and made us all happy. Was it their agenda I wonder, to destroy all the enjoyable things about the former Oxygen Fitness?

extr · Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Posts: 39

In place of a community feeling is a corporate cult type feeling. Those receptionists at the front desk? proof that robot technology is almost real as the real thing! Laughing