LEWISTON, Idaho — A transgender woman was banned from a western Idaho grocery store after customers complained she used the women’s restroom, police in Lewiston said.
Ally Robledo, 25, of Lewiston, identifies herself as female but has not yet had gender reassignment surgery. Robledo, who was born Alberto, said she was leaving a Rosauers supermarket in Lewiston late on April 8 when police officers gave her paperwork informing her that she had a “no trespassing” order against her for using the women’s restroom.
“They pretty much just came up and said, ‘OK, you’re not allowed at our store anymore,'” Robledo told the Lewiston Tribune.
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A manager at Rosauers declined requests to comment made by a local newspaper and television station.
Police Capt. Roger Lanier said some customers complained about a man using the women’s restroom.
“The store employees didn’t want any further problems, and they chose to exercise their right to trespass th is individual from the business,” Lanier told KLEW-TV. “Anyone who owns or controls their property can make that decision.”
Robledo said she has used the women’s restroom at the store on previous occasions without any problems because she looks and dresses like a woman.
According to the National Center for Lesbian Rights, 13 states, including Washington, protect transgender people from discrimination in public accommodations, but the definition of a “public accommodation” differs from state to state.
There is currently no federal law that prohibits discrimination based on gender identity for public accommodations.
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