The Northern California chapter of Society of Professional Journalists recently announced their 2025 award winners… KALW took home four awards! Today, we’re bringing you a story that won an award for explanatory journalism.

March was a particularly tense time for trans folks in San Francisco. Two local bathhouses — Imperial Spa in the Fillmore district, and Archimedes Banya in Hunters Point — were accused of enforcing anti-trans policies. 

After facing backlash online and potential protests, Imperial Spa quickly reversed their policy. But at Banya, it was a little more complicated.