Cross-Dressers Claim Discrimination

(Scottsdale, Arizona) A local night club owner, Tom Anderson, is facing a discrimination complaint because he can't accommodate cross-dressing patrons without angering somebody or incurring an unreasonable business expense.

The dispute began late last year, when Anderson asked Michele deLaFreniere and other patrons to leave the nightclub because they had "freaked out" women customers by using the women's restrooms.

When the transgender patrons tried to use the men's room, they complained to Anderson that male patrons harassed them.

"It was determined that the safest course for the protection of all was to exclude these particular individuals because their conduct was creating tension at the nightclub," Anderson said.

DeLaFreniere, who is chairman of the Scottsdale Human Relations Commission and a city employee, said it was a matter of discrimination and filed the complaint.

Anderson said he has no bias against transgender individuals, but could not afford to put in a third restroom specifically for that group.

Anderson can't afford to put in a new bathroom and he can't afford a high-priced lawyer to defend him against the complaint. He's between the rock and a hard place.