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Discrimination from a Non-Profit

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What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California

I am a member of a non-profit organization and they are having a woman-only event. I actually want to go to to this event with my girlfriend. I'm curious, can they do that? If so, please cite the applicable california law which provides for gender exclusion in certain events.

It would seem to me, since it is a private entity, they can restrict membership, however, since I am a paid member, they should not be allowed to exclude me from events to which I have theoretically paid to have access to.
 


cbg

I'm a Northern Girl
Nowhere near enough information to answer your question.

What is the business of the non-profit? What kind of event? What is the purpose of making it woman-only? Have previous (or will future) events be men-only?
 
Q: What is the business of the non-profit?
A: The non-profit is an Asian American Association focused on leadership, professional development, and the development of the Asian American community.


Q: What kind of event?
A: I will not identify the title of the event as it has the title of the non-profit in it, however, it is designed to discuss woman (specifically asian women) related issues in the Asian American and professional community.

Q: What is the purpose of making it woman-only?
A: I'm not 100% sure, other than in the past they have had several outbursts by men who attend the event and it's gotten uncomfortable from my understanding. That's why this year they wanted to make it woman only.

Q: Have previous (or will future) events be men-only
A: No previous events, but I'm told we will have men-only future events.
 

swalsh411

Senior Member
I'm curious, can they do that? If so, please cite the applicable california law which provides for gender exclusion in certain events.
That's not how laws work. How about you cite the law that says they can't?

Alternatively you could no longer choose to support the organization.

It's also possible that they are marketing it as a "women only" event but if push comes to shove they would allow a man to attend.
 
It is interesting. I found the following on a quick search in Lexis-Nexus.


§ 51. Citation of section; Civil rights of persons in business establishments; Definitions

(a) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Unruh Civil Rights Act.

(b) All persons within the jurisdiction of this state are free and equal, and no matter what their sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, marital status, or sexual orientation are entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever.

There is no single test for determining whether an establishment is in fact a private club or organization, and thus outside the scope of the Unruh Civil Rights Act (CC §§ 51 et seq.). However, selectivity is the essence of a private club. When there is a large membership or a policy of admission without any kind of investigation of the applicant, the logical conclusion is that membership is not selective. An organization with no limits on its membership and with no standards for admissibility is too unselective in its membership policies to be adjudicated a private club. This approach, focussing on exclusivity, ensures that private organizations remain protected. However, entities which are not in fact private must comply with the mandate of the Unruh Act. Curran v. Mount Diablo Council of the Boy Scouts (1983, Cal App 2d Dist) 147 Cal App 3d 712, 195 Cal Rptr 325, 1983 Cal App LEXIS 2233, 38 ALR4th 607, appeal dismissed (1984) 468 US 1205, 104 S Ct 3574, 82 L Ed 2d 873, 1984 US LEXIS 2805.

The inclusion in the Unruh Civil Rights Act (CC § 51) of the words "all" and "of every kind whatsoever" in referring to business establishments, without any exception and without specification of particular kinds of enterprises, leaves no doubt that the term "business establishments" was used in the broadest sense reasonably possible. The word "business" embraces everything about which one can be employed, and it is often synonymous with "calling, occupation, or trade, engaged in for the purpose of making a livelihood or gain." The word "establishment" as broadly defined, includes not only a fixed location, such as the "place where one is permanently fixed for residence or business," but also a permanent "commercial force or organization" or "a permanent settled position (as in life or business)." Rotary Club of Duarte v. Board of Directors (1986, Cal App 2d Dist) 178 Cal App 3d 1035, 224 Cal Rptr 213, 1986 Cal App LEXIS 2722, aff'd (1987) 481 US 537, 107 S Ct 1940, 95 L Ed 2d 474, 1987 US LEXIS 5218.

All of this is well and good, but it's more talking about excluding membership based on age, sex, and gender. Once a person is admitted as a member and essentially passed a private organization's "selectivity" rules, should that member not have all access to the rights associated with membership (assuming there are not different levels of membership that provide for access to certain events in the non-profits bylaws)?
 

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