$90,000 Fine For Golf Club That Refused Gay Partners

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/12/122704atlanta.htm

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin has imposed as fine that could be as high as $90,000 on an exclusive country club that refused to recognize the partners of gay and lesbian members.

It is the first time that the city's human rights ordinance that protects and gays and lesbians from discrimination has been enforced. Franklin has been under pressure for several months to sanction Druid Hills Country Club after the city's Human Relations Commission determined that Lee Kyser and Randy L. New were victims of discrimination when Druid Hills Country Club refused to grant their partners family memberships.

The club, which charges a $40,000 initiation fee and about $475 in monthly dues, told Kyser and New that their partners were welcome to join but not as a families. Family rates are considerably lower than separate memberships.

[AllegroRondo]

1. Heard it this morning on NPR

they said Republicans were calling for judges to throw out the law as unconstitutional.

Funny how they have no problem with "activist judges" working in their favor.

[ArthurDent]

2. Catch 22

The fact is that partners shouldn't be granted family memberships, because they aren't married. A club doesn't want to allow a heterosexual member to designate a partner, and similarly, they do not want to inquire whether a member is straight or gay. It's just a no-win situation unless/until gay marriage/civil unions become legal.

[Ian David]

3. Rich people whining about "family rates" to join a $40,000 club

They just do not have my sympathy.

They're willing to pay all that money to play a GAME?

Let them donate their club dues to the ACLU and coach little league.

[Rowdyboy]

4. $40K upfront and $6K a year to associate with snobbish assholes

Should they be treated exactly the same as a straight couple? Of course. Does it bother me that they're not? Hell, no! There are too many gays denied medical access to their partners, denied inheritance rights, and not allowed to adopt children for me to give a happy damn if these cretins get the "family discount" to play golf and quaff martinis with the Vanderhueseys. There are too many needs in this world to waste pity on these ladies.

I hope they win, I just think its a ridiculous case. Fight for something worthwhile, not cheap membership fees to the freaking country club.

[justin899]

5. Update On Druid Hills Golf Club's Alleged Discrimination

Buried in an article about the upcoming hearings at the Atlanta Human Rights Commission was this little gem about a second incident at this country club...

<snip>

Also at the Jan. 10 meeting, the Human Relations Commission agreed to continue investigating another case of alleged anti-gay discrimination at Druid Hills Golf Club, which is currently involved in a lawsuit with the city of Atlanta after the commission found it guilty of discrimination against gay members.

In the second case, Mitchell Anderson, who is gay, said he was fired from his job as a server at the club on the same day he said he complained to the assistant general manager that his co-workers were harassing him based on his sexual orientation.

Druid Hills sent a letter dated Jan. 3 to the commission stating it would not cooperate in the investigation, Brodie said. The club has denied wrongdoing and stated Anderson’s firing was legitimate.

That's all I need to know about these assholes.