New Law Protects Women-Only Gyms

Women who want to tone their bodies without men looking on can now sweat in peace, thanks to a state law signed by the governor. Not everyone is hailing it as a victory for women, though. The law is opposed by an unlikely coalition of men rebuffed by all-women health clubs, as well as the National Organization for Women. Gov. Paul Cellucci and backers of the law, which also legalizes all-male health clubs, argue that many women prefer to exercise in private, particularly if they have been physically abused or have had mastectomies.