Equal Protection Project Backs Washington Women’s Spa at Supreme Court

The Equal Protection Project filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the Supreme Court in Olympus Spa v. Armstrong. The dispute asks whether Washington’s public accommodation law can override the First Amendment interests of a Korean women’s spa, its female staff, and nude female patrons, including girls as young as thirteen. The spa was found in violation after denying entry to a transgender woman and lost in the lower courts.

EXPANDED:

The Equal Protection Project submitted its friend-of-the-court brief on September 30, 2026, in Olympus Spa v. Armstrong. Attorney Ronald E. Cahill of Barnes & Thornburg in Boston prepared it without charge. The case arose after a transgender woman was refused entry; Washington authorities found the spa violated public accommodation law, and lower federal courts sided against it, with the Ninth Circuit affirming and denying rehearing despite four dissents.

Olympus Spa, run by an immigrant Korean family near Seattle, offers traditional services such as massages and full-body scrubs in communal nude areas. Its staff is female, males are barred, and patrons—including girls as young as thirteen—are unclothed. The owners describe Christian beliefs about modesty, while EPP argues the spa’s admission choices express cultural and religious views protected by the First Amendment.

Count words. First para: The(1) Equal2 Protection3 Project4 submitted5 its6 friend-of-the-court7 brief8 on9 September10 30,11 2026,12 in13 Olympus14 Spa15 v.16 Armstrong17. Attorney18 Ronald19 E.20 Cahill21 of22 Barnes23 &24 Thornburg25 in26 Boston27 prepared28 it29 without30 charge31. The32 case33 arose34 after35 a36 transgender37 woman38 was39 refused40 entry41; Washington42 authorities43 found44 the45 spa46 violated47 public48 accommodation49 law,50 and51 lower52 federal53 courts54 sided55 against56 it,57 with58 the59 Ninth60 Circuit61 affirming62 and63 denying64 rehearing65 despite66 four67 dis