State sides with ladies night foe

Katie Kerwin McCrimmon, Rocky Mountain News

Friday, January 5, 2007

A self-described "agitator’’ against feminism declared ladies nights at Colorado nightclubs dead today after prevailing in a civil rights complaint against The Proof NiteClub in southeast Denver.

Steve Horner learned Thursday that the Division of Civil Rights for the Department of Regulatory Agencies sided with him in his complaint that men were unfairly having to pay cover charges and higher drink prices than women at the Proof’s Ladies Nights.

"Ladies Night is now illegal,’’ said Horner, a 59-year-old corporate speaker, who says he’s been on an anti-feminist crusade since his wife left him with two young children several years ago and he regularly encountered discrimination against men.

Horner vowed to catch any club owners who continue to offer women special deals.

"This is now a violation of law. I will now make it a point to visit as many ladies nights as I can every week. I’ll have my rights violated, then I’ll sue them in county court and collect my $500 (each time),’’ Horner said. "I feel it could net me $3,000 to $4,000 a week easy and I’m going to do it. It takes me five minutes to be discriminated against.’’

While Horner asserted that the ruling applies to all nightclubs, state officials said rulings regarding discrimination in public accommodations apply only to the target of the complaint, not to all similar businesses.

Wendell Pryor, director of the state’s Division of Civil Rights for Regulatory Agencies, said confidentiality requirements prevent him from speaking about the specifics in any case. He said determinations of probable cause are rare. Once there is a determination, the two parties must try to work out their differences in mediation. If they can’t agree to a resolution, the case will go before the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which will decide whether to pursue a discrimination case.

Karen Parker and Tim Bille, owners of The Proof, said vowed to fight back, in a written statement.

"It’s ridiculous that the Proof NiteClub has been singled out because we have a ladies night, when this is a common business practice among many night clubs in Denver and has been for years. We will continue to cooperate and move through the process. The Proof NiteClub has been a successful establishment in Denver for over 25 years and we plan to continue well into the future,’’ Parker and Bell wrote.

Jenn Barton, executive director of the Colorado Licensed Beverage Association, which represents some bar and tavern owners said her board would have to review the ruling.

"I think people are going to reconsider doing ladies nights because of his lawsuit,’’ Barton said.

Horner said the practice promotes special rights for women.

"I’m a major anti-feminist,’’ he said.

Horner said it’s ridiculous that people ask why he’s crusading against unfair treatment of men.

"If I was a black or a cripple or a Jew or a gay, you wouldn’t dare ask me that question,’’ Horner said. "I’m standing up for my civil rights.

Horner said he has "shut down" ladies nights in three other states — Minnesota, Idaho and Oregon. But, he conceded that the business practice soon reemerged.