Posted on 10/07/2005 11:00:24 AM PDT by flutters
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio Civil Rights Commission has ruled a sign in the window of a southwest Ohio tavern declaring, "For Service, Speak English," is discriminatory.
The panel said Thursday the Pleasure Inn on U.S. 42 in Mason, northeast of Cincinnati, violated the state civil rights law.
Commission spokeswoman Christia Alou White said the tavern could be ordered to remove the sign, to pay for advertisements about nondiscrimination, and its staff could be ordered to undergo diversity training or cultural sensitivity training.
The business has 10 days to ask the commission to reconsider. The tavern owner's lawyer declined to comment.
Ohio law says it is unlawful for any proprietor of a place of public accommodation to deny the full enjoyment of the accommodations based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age or ancestry.
The commission said the English-only rule serves no purpose other than to discriminate against non-English speaking individuals.
Housing Opportunities Made Equal, a Mount Auburn-based agency that handles fair-housing issues for eight counties, including Warren, where the tavern is located, filed a complaint with the commission in July after callers complained.
"I really think it's an affront to Hispanic families in the area, and I'm glad that the commission agreed that it's illegal discrimination," said Elizabeth Brown, HOME's executive director.
Does that mean the Tavern has to hire translators?
Is the tavern a private business or a government entity?
Oh good lord.
Perhaps if he said it in Spanish, he'd be OK. And the Spanish speakers would understand it.
Hables Angles Only!
Unless you specify in your state's constitution that English is the official language of your state, then you can't get away with doing this. Of course, I still think that a person should be able to refuse service for whatever reason, but the Feds took care of that for us back in the 1960s.
A sign saying "No Spitting" is also discriminatory.
"I really think it's an affront to Hispanic families in the area, and I'm glad that the commission agreed that it's illegal discrimination,"
I think what's really an affront to Hispanic families is Ms. Brown's assertion that because they're not white, they're too stupid to learn English.
Owl_Eagle(If what I just wrote makes you sad or angry,
Irrelevant. See Smokers.
It makes me so angry to read this that my chest hurts.
Pinche cultural sensitivity placemarker.
Ok, this is insane.
"ordered to undergo diversity training or cultural sensitivity training."
Clearly not intended to actually educate, but to punish. Is there any document that declares English the official language of Ohio, or the US?
I'm in Ohio, but at the other end of the state, aside from contacting my state reps, what can I do? This is one of my pet peeves. English should be the language that binds us. A commonality. If we have nothing in common, what would it be that distiguishes an American?
I am certain the owner was referring merely to using English rather than cussing!
I am certain the owner was referring merely to using English rather than cussing!
#2 The folks complianing most likely broke Federal law by being here.
It's a wash, All involved in this dispute can sit down and shut up.
"The commission said the English-only rule serves no purpose other than to discriminate against non-English speaking individuals."
Ya' think?
And when did the word "discriminate" come to have only negative connotations...?
What gives this commission the authority to order anyone to do anything?
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