West Hollywood

New anti-discrimination legislation proposed by Councilman Steve Schulte and tentatively passed during the council’s most recent session would prohibit West Hollywood taverns, clubs and alcohol-serving restaurants from barring women and other minorities because they do not have more than one identification card.

In recent public testimony before the City Council, women complained that a number of local bars demand up to three pieces of identification in an effort to keep them out. Several others complained that bars used bans against open-toed shoes to keep out women and transvestites. Bar owners responded that they required several forms of identification to lessen their legal liability and the potential for violent incidents.