Lesbian couple win country club case

By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk • January 29, 2007 - 14:13

The court ruled that businesses must recognise domestic partners on an equal footing to married spouses.

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A lesbian couple have won a lawsuit after the California Supreme Court ruled that the a country club had discriminated against them on the basis of their marital status.

Birgit Koebke and Kendall French are unable to marry under state law.

A San Diego country club, of which Koebke is a member, refused to take this into consideration when it forced her domestic partner to pay guest fees for the Club's golf course.

Club policy states that members' spouses could play for free.

The couple filed suit against the club claiming that their policy violated state law and discriminated against them on the basis of sexual orientation and marital status.

According to GayBusinessWorld, the couple originally lost a suit when a San Diego appeals court ruled in favour of the club in 2004.

In 2005 the couple appealed and won a victory when the California Supreme Court declared that the club's policy violated anti-discrimination legislation.

The court ruled that businesses must recognise domestic partners on an equal footing to married spouses.

The club's membership director has now changed the club's policy to accommodate the Court's ruling.

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