ELLISVILLE, Mo. — Dozens of people gathered outside the Ellisville Lifetime Fitness center Friday afternoon where Republican state lawmakers addressed concerns about a transgender woman who used the women's locker room earlier this month.

Those on both sides of the issue chanted, held signs and blew whistles. Many tried to make it difficult for Republican lawmakers to speak with reporters at the news conference.

"Many of my constituents use this facility and were understandably uncomfortable and scared,” State Rep. Justin Sparks, R-Wildwood, said.  

“We're drawing a line in the sand in our state, which is creating a safe space for somebody should not jeopardize the safety of our wives, of our mothers, and our daughters. And that's what was happening."

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has launched a probe into Lifetime Fitness investigating any potential illegal activities. Lawmakers want to know how the gym patron got a state issued ID with the gender listed as female.

“I believe that trans women should have a right to go where they feel comfortable, and I understand that causes discomfort for others, but the problem is, nobody wants to accept them anywhere,” rally attendee Susan Hipp told Spectrum News.

“I don’t think that a trans woman is any threat in any restroom. There are pedophiles and people in restrooms that nobody is aware of who are threats, and nobody is paying attention to that or making an issue about it.”

State Rep. Holly Jones, R-Eureka, who spoke following Sparks, said, “These rights of one male do not trump the rights of the female memberships of this club.”

Jacqueline Cotton attended the gathering on Friday. She is running against Sparks as a Democrat to be a Missouri State representative for District 101.

“We have more guns killing in our schools than we have any trans person threatening anyone in any bathroom anywhere,” she told Spectrum News.

Cotton added the gathering takes away from “the real issues, which are guns killing children, health care not being able to get to children, women’s rights being taken away, those are our main focuses.”

A St. Louis area resident said, “Men just don’t belong in women’s restrooms. It’s a really simple concept.”

Another St. Louis resident said, “Saying that you identify as a woman doesn’t make you a woman.”