Phoenix Country Club loses battle over separate grills

[one...two...tree 2,762]

by JJ Hensley - The Arizona Republic

The presence of separate men's and women's grills at the Phoenix Country Club violates state statutes barring sex discrimination, according to a ruling this week from the state's Civil Rights Division.

The division launched an investigation after Phoenix Country Club members Logan and Barbara Van Sittert filed a complaint in March 2007 alleging discrimination because of the country club's policy that barred Barbara Van Sittert from entering the Men's Grill.

Through the course of the inquiry, Civil Rights Division investigators interviewed members who refuted the country club executives' assertions that the two grills were separate but equally appointed with amenities.

"(The Men's Grill) is well known that it is a popular place to gather after golf and that it is a place where men transact business and further their business contact," the division's finding reads. It also notes that the men's facility has a fully stocked bar, three high definition TVs and a complete buffet.

"The Women's Grill has no bar and 'kind of a hot plate set up,' " the finding reads.

Club executives also claimed the private nature of the country club exempted the facility from being subject to the state's Civil Rights Act.

But the division's investigators found that country club members' ability to host events for non-members in club dining facilities undermines "PCC's position that it is a private club."

After determining that the country club, with its frequent events open to non-members, was a place of public accommodation, the investigators found that the facilities were subject to Arizona's Civil Rights Act and club executives could not enforce policies that engaged in discrimination based on sex.

The division requested that both the Van Sitterts and Phoenix Country Club representatives work to resolve the issue through conciliation.

http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix...ate0612-ON.html

[Nagishkaw 510]

Oh Good Grief! Such trivial things to moan , whine and lament about!

[Jenn! 918]

See now, *this* is precisely the reason I am not a member of any country club.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

I had no idea this still went on.

[zqt3344 21]

Well let us see, first you want to be included with men, then when you do you want to sue or cry sexual harrassment or some other BS because men were being men, so which is it, you want to be around men or you want to be respected and treated with kid gloves, make up your minds women! Lame very lame.

by JJ Hensley - The Arizona Republic

The presence of separate men's and women's grills at the Phoenix Country Club violates state statutes barring sex discrimination, according to a ruling this week from the state's Civil Rights Division.

The division launched an investigation after Phoenix Country Club members Logan and Barbara Van Sittert filed a complaint in March 2007 alleging discrimination because of the country club's policy that barred Barbara Van Sittert from entering the Men's Grill.

Through the course of the inquiry, Civil Rights Division investigators interviewed members who refuted the country club executives' assertions that the two grills were separate but equally appointed with amenities.

"(The Men's Grill) is well known that it is a popular place to gather after golf and that it is a place where men transact business and further their business contact," the division's finding reads. It also notes that the men's facility has a fully stocked bar, three high definition TVs and a complete buffet.

"The Women's Grill has no bar and 'kind of a hot plate set up,' " the finding reads.

Club executives also claimed the private nature of the country club exempted the facility from being subject to the state's Civil Rights Act.

But the division's investigators found that country club members' ability to host events for non-members in club dining facilities undermines "PCC's position that it is a private club."

After determining that the country club, with its frequent events open to non-members, was a place of public accommodation, the investigators found that the facilities were subject to Arizona's Civil Rights Act and club executives could not enforce policies that engaged in discrimination based on sex.

The division requested that both the Van Sitterts and Phoenix Country Club representatives work to resolve the issue through conciliation.

http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix...ate0612-ON.html