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Washington mother says she found adult male showering in women's locker room during children's swim meet
By Rachel del Guidice
Published July 28, 2026
A Washington mother says she encountered an adult male showering in a women's locker room while children were attending a swim meet at a local recreation center, prompting renewed debate over policies governing access to sex-segregated facilities.
"Right before my daughter's first race, I went into the women's locker room to use the restroom," Maria Varchetto, whose daughter was participating in a swim meet at Seattle-area Lynnwood Recreation Center, told Fox News Digital in a statement.
"The locker room is set up like most public locker rooms, with an open shower area and two private shower stalls that have curtains. I know these showers well because my daughter uses them regularly," she said. "The curtains are too narrow for the width of the shower opening, and even when they are pulled closed, they often slide back open on both sides with movement or from the water hitting them."
"As I walked toward the back of the locker room where the restrooms are located, I saw what appeared to be an adult male's exposed, erect penis through the gap in one of the shower curtains," Varchetto continued. "The exposure was not something I was looking for — it was simply visible as I walked by, and it immediately caught my attention. I was shocked and unsure how to respond, so I continued to the restroom."
FILE - In this May 17, 2016, file photo, a new sticker is placed on the door at the ceremonial opening of a gender-neutral bathroom at Nathan Hale High School in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)
The incident occurred at the Lynnwood Recreation Center on July 12 in suburban Seattle during Varchetto's daughter's swim meet.
"When I came out, I saw a mother and her young daughter washing their hands at the sink," Varchetto said. "As I walked toward the exit, the person's genitals were again plainly visible from the walkway. At that point, I decided I needed to say something. I said, 'Excuse me, this is the women's locker room.'"
The person did not respond.
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Empty school hallway with royal blue metal lockers. (Getty Images)
Varchetto said she took up the issue with the front desk to inform them that there was a male showering in the female locker room.
Management then went into the women’s locker room and addressed the man.
"The manager addressed the individual and said, 'Excuse me, are you confused? This is the women's locker room.' The individual responded only, "I'm trans.'"
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Varchetto said the man in the women's locker room was taking a shower behind a curtain that was partly open. (Boroux)
Varchetto said the manager left after the exchange.
"My family loves the Lynnwood Recreation Center, but after this experience, I no longer feel comfortable allowing my daughter to use the women's locker room by herself," Varchetto said.
"If I'm not with her, I ask her to use one of the family locker rooms instead," she added. "She has told me she feels guilty doing that because there are only a handful of family locker rooms, and families with small children are often waiting to use them."
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A teenage girl swimming butterfly in an outdoor swim meet. (Getty Images)
Nathan MacDonald, manager of communications and public affairs for the City of Lynnwood, told Fox News Digital in a statement, "On Sunday, July 12th, our Lynnwood Recreation Center staff received a complaint that a self-identifying trans woman was using a shower stall inside the women’s locker room. We can confirm that the complaint was filed and that our staff conferred with both parties."
"Our Recreation Center facilities comply with Washington Administrative Code 162-32-060, which requires all entities to allow individuals to use gender-segregated facilities, including locker rooms and dressing rooms, that correspond with their gender expression or gender identity," MacDonald continued.
"Since the incident, our facilities team has installed new full-sized shower curtains in the locker rooms and is exploring other modifications to our shower facilities to ensure the privacy of all our Recreation Center patrons," he added.
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Fox News Digital reached out to the Lynnwood Recreation Center for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/washington-mother-found-adult-male-showering-womens-locker-room-childrens-swim-meet