as a crossdresser can i be legally barred from public places?

Question

my gf and i went out the other night to a restaraunt once seated the waitress came over and took our drink order. well she must have made me cause the next thing we know the mngr was at our table telling us we would have to leave. he threatened to call the police if we did not . my gf thinks i should call a lawyer what do you think? btw i am a very passable woman it is my voice which usually gives it away so i dont see what the problem is iwas dressed tastefully and we were minding our own buisness.

i was so upset i was actually crying how can people be so ignorant and narrowminded. all we wanted was a night out

it makes me so mad and btw marcus i am very very passable i get hit on all the time.
why cant people just let us be who we want to be?

Answer 1

A restaurant is not a public place; it is a private establishment, and many private establishments even post signs saying that they reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.

It's not nice or fair that they can do that, but it is legal, since it's not a public place. My advice is to not frequent them- don't give them any of your money!- and tell everyone you know to not, either. It's their loss of your business by turning you away for something so insignificant.

Answer 2

This happened to a gay impersonator celebrity in the Philippines. He wore a womans dress with all the make up and was refused entry in a restaurant. He filled a complaint against the restaurant owner and the issue even reached the Philippine Senate. He was supported by a gay and lesbian group in the Philippines. However the case has not really prospered as there are no laws protecting gay people in the Philippines. The good thing about this incident was restaurant owners became more aware that they could get in trouble if they refuse a legitimate customer. You can try filling a case against the restaurant owner but it is best you get support from a gay group to put your issue in media and rally people behind you. However if you are in the part of the world where gay rights are non-existent, it will be an uphill battle and you might spend time and money for nothing. Weight the pros and cons.

Answer 3

It really should not mater if you pass or not
this was discrimination in the first degree
this is exactly the argument i we should all be fighting for
equal rights and equal respect
i would sue if you have the money if not at least scare them
but the better way is to protest your right
i did not look to see where you are
but i recommend you find about twenty guys or girl dress everyone up in drag
go in to the restaurant and
if the kick you out
make a fuss about it
demonstrate right at their door
just stay on the street it is a public place
make sure every one knows about it
they may have the right in America
but you should have the right to go into any public place
to me a restaurant is a public place (i am a chef)
will it is here in Australia and all business here are suppose to have an anti discrimination law that they must follow

the other thing for others that may read this answer in the future if you are a transssexual you are legally your chosen gender
so therefore you can use either restroom / change room of that gender

Answer 4

I am not a lawyer, but as far as I know, there are no laws in the United States barring you from going to a public place crossdressed. A restaurant is a private establishment, but it serves the public and as such, cannot bar any customer unless you are creating a hazard, damaging property, creating a ruckass.

Your gf is right, speak to a lawyer. The ACLU takes cases like this as well. Contact the NTCE can also be a resource you should consider.

There are other organizations you should consider contacting as well.

It is placed like that, that discriminate against anyone who is transgendered and should be sued. You have a right to go outside and enjoy yourself at any Establishment regardless of your gender presentation.

Answer 5

You don't state where you live so anyone above who gave an absolute answer is full of something.

In most locales there are not laws protecting cross dressers from discrimination in public accommodation. So, the bigotry is perfectly legal.

If there is such a law in your area you do have civil recourse. Either way I'd never go back there. Of course some people would be tempted to book a huge Christmas party there...and show up with 50 guys in drag on a big Saturday night in December....see if his bigotry is more important than his wallet.

Answer 6

I would think that is discrimination, and unless you were making a disturbance, or had the other patrons in some sort of frenzy I dont see how they can, Did they explain to you why they were asking you to leave ? It may be private owned but there are laws that they have to abide by,,, If there was a woman sitting anywhere in that restaraunt that was wearing a T-shirt and jeans that were made for and or sold for men in the Mens Dept of a retail store, Did they ask them to leave as well,, ?? Its NO Different as far as I am concerned,, Yea,, I would call a lawyer, DAMN Right I would

Answer 7

I think that this kind of thing varies from state to state. I live in Illinois and we have anti discrimination statutes protecting the GLBT community as well as cross dressers. As long as it is not being done for discriminatory reasons, and the business has a sign posted stating the prohibition then it is legal. For example, I know of a local adult novelty store that decided to ban cross dressers from entering the store while they were dressed as the opposite gender. They did this because they were having trouble with theft and other crimes that were being perpetrated by people in drag because they knew it would be hard to identify them later. So they posted a sign saying that cross dressers were prohibited in the store and would be asked to leave and if they refused they police would be called.

Answer 8

Restaurants reserve the right to refuse service to whomever they choose, unfortunately.

But I'm sorry they did that to you. If I were you, I would never go back there again, and I would tell all of your friends never to go to that specific restaurant either. They don't deserve your patronage.

If you were causing a commotion or going in there with hardly any clothes on, or being loud and offensive, vulgar, damaging property, or abusing the staff, that would be another matter. But if you're not doing any of those things, than I think that people are people, and businesses have no right to deny service to any courteous, paying customer.

Answer 9

As a gay man myself, I feel you should have the right to sit and pee, eat, gossip etc. anywhere you choose. Come on sweetheart. It isn't illegal, but you need to be a bit more understanding of the way people view a 6ft 200lb woman wearing 6 in heels size 12 sling backs to the Sizzler. Keeping your mouth shut won't get you a better table. Stick with our own. We tend to be much more judgmental, but we won't have you removed. Entertainment and dinner, now that's what I call a night out with the 'girls'.

Answer 10

As far as i know they can't do anything unless they put up a sign that says something like "no cross dressers alowed"

But aslong as there is no sign you can't get in truble....

But as far as i know if the owner of the property ask you to leave it you have to....

You could probly legaly make them let you though as not to be discrimitive.


But thing is it's privatly owned so unless you take some legal action then they are going to look at the fact they own the place first.