Speaking of stupid court decisions... `Ladies nights' ruled illegal in New Jersey Associated Press TRENTON, N.J. -- The state's top civil rights official has ruled that taverns cannot offer discounts to women on "ladies nights," agreeing with a man who claimed such gender-based promotions discriminated against men. David R. Gillespie said it was not fair for women to get into the Coastline nightclub for free and receive discounted drinks while men paid a $5 cover charge and full price for drinks. In his ruling Tuesday, J. Frank Vespa-Papaleo, director of the state Division on Civil Rights, rejected arguments by the nightclub that ladies nights were a legitimate promotion. Commercial interests do not override the "important social policy objective of eradicating discrimination," he ruled. Gov. James E. McGreevey criticized the decision, calling it "bureaucratic nonsense." "It is an overreaction that reflects a complete lack of common sense and good judgment," McGreevey said. The governor does not have the authority to directly rescind the ruling. But he met with state Attorney General Peter C. Harvey on Wednesday, telling him that the civil rights division had better things to do with its time, said Micah Rasmussen, a spokesman for McGreevey. A spokesman for Harvey did not immediately return calls seeking comment. The ruling specifically addressed the weekly ladies nights at the Coastline in Cherry Hill, but it carries the force of a court decision and applies statewide. Vespa-Papaleo said state officials would write formal rules after a public hearing. Courts in other states have issued divergent opinions on such promotions. Judges in Pennsylvania and Iowa have said similar events are illegal, but courts in Illinois and Washington state have said that "ladies nights" are permissible because they do not discriminate against men but rather encourage women to attend.
Hah, I wonder if this will catch on. Everything seems so damn sensitive in the States right now, isn't it? Aren't guys supposed to enjoy Ladies night as well?
I thought the point of ladies night was to encourage women to show up at bars to attract men. Isn't that the reason they go to bars in the first place??? Judging by our last gig, it can't be for the music. {rimshot} Thank you! I'll be here all week. Tip your bartenders and waitresses.
I was going to say "don't give up your day job", but I don't know if you're a better comedian or musician Jeff !
It's an interesting decision, but one that makes logical sense. We think its silly because we know the intent is not discriminatory, but you can't make law on intent. If this had been "white people's night", where white people got in free but minorities had to pay, we'd all pretty much agree that this is outright illegal, right? Gender and race discrimination are treated the same under the law. The logical conclusion is that switching out "white people" with "ladies" would have the same legal issues.
logical sense for who, though? laws our at our disposal and control. if they don't serve us practically, we get rid of them. laws don't exist in a bubble...in some theoretical world with absolute axioms. better to have laws that serve people than people that serve laws.
Now I'm all for ladies night and everything at the club. It doesn't bother me because when that goes on you usually have a greater turn out of women than men, always a good thing. But I could see where one could view it as discrimination. I mean it is kind of discriminatory to men. You charge less for women to enter and charge them less for their purchases inside as well but it's the kind of discrimination that should be and usually is tolerated such as, nobody really complains when they are in a restaurant and seniors get food at discounted prices or free drinks.
Oh yes, it's ladies night and the feeling's right oh yes, it's ladies night oh, what a night oooooh what a night
You know, ever since I read the headline, I can't get that damn song out of my head, specifically, Jon Lovitz' version in the Wedding Singer.
The court decision makes fine sense to me. I just have to wonder what was wrong with the idiot, David Gillespie, who brought the complaint. Did he just go to the bar to drink and didn't want to be hassled by women? Did he think bringing out lots of women and plying them with cheap booze made the challenge t0o easy and robbed him of the thrill of the hunt? What exactly was he thinking?
I too agree with Major. Women have worked hard to gain such high status in our community and to be EQUAL to men. If you are going to give them special privelages just because they are women doesnt technically make sense. But what about at the cllubs where ladies get in free before 12 am, can a man sue the club for being discriminatory? I mean there are so many instances, going after each minor one is just plain ridiculous...
I suspect that Mr. Gillespie has 1) a face that repels women more effectively than a The Man Show marathon....2) some serious issues with women brought about by a previous/current relationship or both.
Agreed. It doesn't make me feel discrimanted against much, if at all, but I can see how some may take offense. At the very least, they should be required to have one "men's night" for every woman's night.
