Playboy Mansion party violates Unruh Civil Rights Act in California

I wanted to bring to your attention a party being thrown Saturday, May 23, 2009, at the Playboy Mansion. They are currently charging $450 for women and $675 for men. This appears to be a clear violation of the Unruh Civil Rights Act in California, which protects against discrimination based on gender.

The California Supreme Court has ruled that the Unruh Civil Rights Act outlaws sex-based prices at bars (ladies' nights): offering women a discount on drinks, but not offering the same discount to males. In Koire v Metro Car Wash, 40 Cal 3d24, 219 Cal Rptr 133(1985), the court held that such discounts constituted sex stereotyping prohibited by this Act.

You can find the full text of the Act here, reading in part:

'Section 51b: 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.

Section 51.6a: No business establishment of any kind whatsoever may discriminate, with respect to the price charged for services of similar or like kind, against a person because of the person's gender.'

As far as I can tell the party is being organized by Chris Marcovici (chris-at-mixnightlife.com).

I urge you to consider this information. It's discrimination like this that holds us back from reaching true equality. Please spread the word about this injustice against civil rights progress.