A transgender woman is speaking out after claiming she was not allowed to use a women’s restroom at a casino on the Strip.
Kaite Charm, who is from San Francisco, was attending a Cirque du Soleil show inside New York, New York a few days ago when the incident happened.
She says someone complained when she tried using the bathroom. When she tried going to the bathroom a second time, she was confronted by security.
“Four security people were making a line blocking the hallway, and I’m just like what’s going on?” Charm said.
Katie Charm says she started transitioning about seven months ago after spending 13 years in the military.
After she attempted to explain her gender-identity, Charm says she asked to speak to a manager, but it didn’t help. That’s when she started recording the confrontation.
“What about sexual-identity discrimination, gender?” Charm asked in the recording. “This is private property. I can ask you to leave for any reason, at any particular time,” the manager responded.
At one point, a staff member can be heard asking her for her identification. After not coming to an agreement, Charm decided to leave and asked for a refund.
“The last thing he said to me is ‘why would we give you a refund because you have a problem with our establishment?’” Charm said.
MGM Resorts International says it allows visitors to use restrooms consistent with their gender identity.
The resort released a statement which reads in part, “MGM Resorts strives to create a safe and inclusive environment for our LGBTQ guests. This incident is of deep concern to us and we continue to investigate.”
A spokesperson says they’ve reached out to Charm and have apologized.
She’s not ready to accept their apology and says she hopes it doesn’t happen again to anyone else.
“What’s going to make things better? Truly better for the next transwoman or transman that wants to come to Vegas?” Charm said.
Charm was in the Air Force for 13 years.
