Carilion Roanoke Athletic Club Changes "Household" Policy - FOX 21/27 WFXR Roanoke/WWCW Lynchburg News, Weather

Carilion Roanoke Athletic Club Changes "Household" Policy

"The last couple of weeks have been difficult," says Will Trinkle.

One week ago Will Trinkle and Juan Granados, a Roanoke same-sex couple, filed a lawsuit against the Roanoke Athletic Club and its owner Carilion Clinic after their family gym membership was revoked.

The reason why the membership was revoked was because Carilion told them they didn't meet the commonwealth's definition of a family.

We talked exclusively with the couple on the phone.

"We were really surprised having to file the lawsuit and what had happened to us. We were very surprised and hurt by it, but we did what we wanted to do and changed their policy," says Trinkle.

Thursday, more than a week after the filing, the RAC changed its policy, making the announcement on its Facebook page.

Without ever mentioning the phrases "same-sex," "gay," or "homosexual," and instead calling it a "contemporary household," the policy says "a household consists of a primary member and up to one additional household member that permanently lives in the household, and any of their dependent children under the age of 22".

Trinkle says the change is long overdue.

"We believe what we believe in, and we believe our family should have the same opportunity as all families and that is why we did it," says Trinkle.

But why the change now? Trinkle says, "I think there was a lot of pressure on them. I am just glad they stepped up. It has been a difficult road. But we are glad to see where it is."

With the policy change, Trinkle and Granados say they hope to return to the RAC.

"The purpose of the lawsuit was to be allowed to use the RAC and take our son and swim and we will see how we are received there. There is obviously some error of bigotry and discrimination that we hope is not there anymore. We hope they see that is the right way to go."