US: L.A. strip club sued for refusing entry to lesbian unaccompanied by a man

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A lesbian is suing a California strip club for allegedly refusing to allow her entry unless she was accompanied by a man.

Tamara Yatkin filed a suit on Friday against strip club Paradise Showgirls, which has premises in the City of Industry, Los Angeles. She is suing for “unspecified damages”, and seeking an injunction to overturn the policy barring entry for unaccompanied women.

According to the lawsuit, Yatkin, after asking the club’s doorman about the cover charge and telling him she would be entering alone, she was informed that “she had to be accompanied by a man to enter the club” as part of the club’s policy.

The incident in question took place on 29 June 2013.

The lawsuit continues to note that Yatkin “reassured the man that she was not a problem, that she was a lesbian who wanted to spend money and have a good time”, but was nevertheless refused entry.

It states that Yatkin attempted to speak to the manager, immediately and then by telephone over the next fortnight, to try to get the policy adjusted, but was told that the club “could not be bothered”.

She initially filed discrimination complaints with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, before initiating the lawsuit.