UK: No more 'ladies’ day' under sex laws shake-up (Private clubs to be regulated)

The Telegraph (U.K.) ^ | June 3, 2007 | Patrick Hennessy

[Stoat]

No more 'ladies’ day' under sex laws shake-up

By Patrick Hennessy Political Editor, Sunday Telegraph
 

Last Updated: 12:39am BST 03/06/2007

 

Private clubs are to be banned from discriminating against members and guests on the grounds of sex in a major shake-up of equality laws.

The proposals will spell an end to the "sexist" practice of women being stopped from using certain dining rooms or bars, or only being allowed to play golf on certain days of the week.

Plans for a Single Equality Act, which aims to bring up to date all existing discrimination legislation, are being drawn up by Ruth Kelly's Department for Communities and Local Government and are due to be unveiled within weeks.

 

Under the proposals, seen by The Sunday Telegraph, the Government intends "to make it unlawful for private clubs with both men and women as members to discriminate on grounds of sex".

Ministers claim they have "for many years encouraged clubs to address this issue voluntarily" but that their calls have fallen on deaf ears. The Government continues to receive complaints from female club members who experience "blatant sex discrimination" because their access to "activities and benefits" is limited, according to a senior Whitehall source.

Public consultation is expected to begin later this month ahead of the new laws, which would fulfil a Labour manifesto commitment, planned for the autumn. The laws would affect mixed-sex private members clubs - mainly London-based - where women members and guests are currently banned from certain bars or dining rooms, either permanently or at specific times of the day. They would also hit some golf clubs where women are subjected to restrictions over when they can play.

Ministers have, however, shied away from an all-out clash with clubs admitting only men - or only women - members. These include some golf clubs, eight working men's clubs and a handful of "gentlemen's clubs" in London. They will be allowed to continue their single-sex admission policies.

Age-restricted holiday companies such as Saga for the over-50s and Club 18-30 had feared they would have to start catering for all ages but Government sources said there were no plans to bring them under the "single equality" umbrella.

[Stoat]

It sounds like a replay of the Augusta National brouhaha that we had here in the USA a few years ago.

[SteveMcKing]

I’m OK with that. People wanted “equal rights” — so give it to them!

They are getting more than they expected, and it only serves them right.

[big'ol_freeper]

Yeah. Sr@w freedom of association! < /sarcasm>

[Tax-chick]

Ladies aren’t that interested in sex, anyway.

[Stoat]

Ladies aren’t that interested in sex, anyway.

Would that be more the domain of the 'hussy' as apposed to the 'lady'?

(snicker)

[Tax-chick]

(It seemed an obvious response to the headline.)

[sinanju]

The Battle of Augusta involved no branches of government. The courts, as I recall, refused to get involved.

So whatsherface of this umbrella feminist group tried to wield the combined power of the media and the feminazis to harrass Augsta National into admitting women. There was a parallel campaign to intimidate Tiger Woods into climbing aboard. In both instances these supposedly irresistable forces failed dismally against determined opposition (which is all it really takes, prick the bully with a pin and watch him or her deflate). Even with Howell Raines’ NYT in their hip pocket, their final rally on opening day was barely twenty people (not counting the “iron my shirt” guy).

This showed up what a paper tiger the feminists really are. Why any politician or CEO gives them the time of day is beyond me.

[SteveMcKing]

Elites want things for the little people, such as “equal rights”, in order to boost their own politics and perceived popularity. The moment it affects them personally, they complain.

So yes, screw the freedom of elites to associate. They asked for it.

[Stoat]

Thanks for the refresher on that issue....I think that it will be different in this case, however, because the Government seems determined to weild it’s fifty-pound sledgehammer on the matter.

[sinanju]

For a classic in sportswriting mixed with politics I highly recommend: “The Battle for Augusta National: Hootie, Martha and the Masters of the Universe.”

Also google Martha Burk, that was her name. Some bizarre anti-male rants of hers were unearthed by our side during her campaign.

[rawhide]

I cannot wait to be the first guy admitted to the all-girls college!

[unixfox]

I love it when feminists get their way.

[Stoat]

Yes, I remember that, thanks....there were some truly ugly moments to that whole fiasco.

I admit to be working from recollection here, but I seem to recall that there is no firmly enshrined ‘freedom of association’ under law in Great Britain, at least not as we know it here in the USA.

[sinanju]

The Battle of Augusta was worth it to demonstrate to all and sundry how laughably little popular support the feminists actually commanded.

I would also point to the hilariously pathetic “Millions for Reparations” rally on the National Mall of Sept ‘03 as an example of an issue/cause coming out into the open and showing it was all media-generated foofaraw.

[JoeSixPack1]

Too late. I did that in 1985. Small college, 84 women & me.

It wasn’t easy, but someone had to do it! :-)

[Stoat]

I cannot wait to be the first guy admitted to the all-girls college!

f would feel sorry for him, because he will be treated like hell and will get lousy grades regardless of his quality of work.

You can force institutions to bend to the whip of Government, but you can't force people to act in a certain way behind closed doors.

On a related note, there's currently a lawsuit being brought by a lesbian in northern California against E-Harmony, the online dating site which caters exclusively to heterosexual people.

If she wins, I'm not sure how many date she will get at a site like that.  I also understand that there's not exactly a shortage of homosexual dating sites available.

 

[sinanju]

It was especially instructive the unlimbering of the ugliest anti-southern bigotry by Martha Burk and her fellow-travellers during that episode.

Rather like the dusting off of racist, ethnic bigotry unleashed by the Left against the Miami Cubans during the Elian Affair of ‘99.

[gidget7]

I find the use of the word manefesto quite interesting.

Just more feminism, and more anti-men bias by those who are feminist activist, IMHO.

[rawhide]

Too late. I did that in 1985. Small college, 84 women & me.

Really? I bet you had some good experiences? Did you enjoy it, being the only guy?

[reg45]

Did you have a roommate?