San Francisco Russian Bathhouse Changes Women's Night Policy After Online Backlash Over Trans Exclusion

Archimedes Banya, which describes itself as San Francisco's only full-nude Russian bathhouse, is revising the rules for its monthly women's night after a wording change that excluded transgender women prompted a wave of criticism online.

The bathhouse had recently altered the listing for its ladies-only night to say that only "BIOLOGICAL WOMEN" would be admitted, a step it framed as a way to "shelter religious preferences of women in our community." The phrasing was soon changed to "sex assigned at birth," but users on Reddit had already captured screenshots of the original text. A Yelp screenshot also indicated that the men's night had at first been limited to "BIOLOGICAL MEN" before that wording was swapped out as well.

One Reddit user, posting as wordsthatoutliveus, accused the business of changing its language "to obfuscate the transphobia under the guise of religious accommodation."

Reaction to the policy was divided. Amanilmeke, a 25-year-old trans woman who declined to give her full name, told The San Francisco Standard that she did not see cisgender women having their own night as a major problem. She added that being excluded one night a month is not much of a loss, since "no sane person goes to the banya every day of the month."

Some commenters defended the approach. One Reddit user argued that religious women, including Muslims and Orthodox Jews, place importance on sex segregation, and said the situation is "vastly different than banning trans women from women's bathrooms." Another praised the bathhouse for being "deliberately inclusive of everyone" by creating a space where a subset of women can feel psychologically safe. Others pushed back, with one user warning that the change is "a symptom of a deeper problem" that could worsen if people do not speak up.

The policy stands out because nude bathhouses in the Bay Area have generally welcomed transgender guests. Kabuki Springs & Spa in Japantown says on its website that its goal is inclusivity, with all cisgender and transgender men welcome on men-only days and the same openness on women-only days. It also provides nonbinary changing facilities on Tuesday co-ed days, when swimsuits are required. At Pearl Spa, a women-only Korean-style jimjilbang in Japantown, a receptionist who declined to give a name said trans women have always been welcome.

Archimedes Banya defended the change on Monday and said in a statement that it is creating "two distinct women's nights." One would be open to all women "regardless of sex assigned at birth or gender expression," while the other would be a "Cultural & Religious Women's Night."

General manager Abhishek Vaidya told The Standard in an email that the second event grew from a wish to respect the beliefs of women who need "a phallus-free environment." He wrote that the bathhouse tried to navigate "an important conversation about inclusivity, safety, and respect," and acknowledged that "our words did not fully reflect our values, and for that, we are truly sorry."

As of publication, the bathhouse's events page had not been updated to list the women's night open to trans and nonbinary people, and Vaidya did not immediately say when it would be offered. The monthly men's night remains limited by "sex assigned at birth" in its listing, with no all-inclusive men's night shown on the calendar or website. Vaidya did not immediately answer whether one would be added for trans men. The banya also hosts a clothing-required family day and a breathwork day. Vaidya said the business is "committed to ongoing dialogue to ensure that all our guests feel respected and valued."