Apparently, a lawyer in New York has filed a lawsuit claiming that bars that have “ladies nights” are discriminating against men:
Clubs and bars have been luring women to their establishments with lower fees and shorter waits for decades, but a recent lawsuit claims that the practice is unconstitutional.
New York attorney Roy Den Hollander, a solo practitioner for more than 15 years who deals primarily with civil litigation and corporate governance, has filed a class action against certain Manhattan nightclubs for “invidious discrimination” against men in their policies for admitting patrons.
Hollander is seeking a declaratory judgment that would clarify whether nightclubs’ policies consist of “state action” due to their regulation by the state’s Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, and consequently are subject to liability pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1983, which allows civil action for deprivation of rights by persons acting under the color of state law. Hollander v. Copacabana Nightclub, 1:2007 CV 5873. A case management and scheduling conference has been set for Oct. 11.
The attorney alleges that the clubs are violating the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection under the law, and in addition to declaratory relief, he is seeking nominal damages and an injunction to halt the nightclubs’ practice of admitting women at a lower price than men.
The nightclubs named in the suit include Copacabana Nightclub, China Club, A.E.R. Nightclub and Sol.
Hollander says he attended each of these venues on nights when they held promotions offering women either free or reduced fees, shorter waiting periods, or longer windows for free or reduced admission that were not available to men.
“It’s either more money, more time or more burdensome,” said Hollander of the difficulties men face in gaining admittance to nightclubs.
Or as Kool & The Gang told us so long ago, it’s just Ladies Night:
This guy either doesn’t get the point of getting women into bars, or he’s a shyster. In either case, he’s nuts.
July 13th, 2007 at 8:55 am
Seems a reasonable request for one thing: no nightclubs that I’m aware of have Whites’ Nights or Blacks’ Nights. If they had it would indeed be propestrous. So why have sexual discrimination?
July 13th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
If a bar owner wants to give reduced priced drinks to women on the theory that attracting more women to his bar will also bring more men in to meet said women, then why should the government tell him he can’t do it ?
July 27th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
I think Hollander has a legitimate case. The ladies night concept may work in theory but produces the opposite effect in practice. The record shows other states that have put a ban on ladies night have not diminished their profits but have increased them. Its simple math. Make more people pay an your gonna make more money. Either way, it is discriminatory. I also have to say the practice of ladies night in NY may be unique in comparison to those in other states. The abuse of the concept in NY has become where on any given night you may be rejected simply because your male. Or they’ll tell you that , in order to enter as a single male, you have to order a bottle starting at $300 per bottle minimum (no exaggeration). Not just at one specific venue or for a special occasion but ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT AT VARIOUS VENUES. They even say to the crowd we’re not excepting any more guys tonight. Fare? You decide.