Allred Barred From Steam Room, Blisters N.Y. Hotel

Boiling mad at being denied access to a Wall Street hotel’s steam room, feminist attorney Gloria Allred filed sex discrimination charges with the state Division of Human Rights against the Vista International Hotel Executive Fitness Center.

Allred, a Los Angeles attorney who has represented thousands of women in sex discrimination cases, said Friday that the case is important because “the steam room has come to symbolize where the ‘old boys’ have gathered to make deals and talk about their sexual exploits. . . . Women are no longer going to accept hot air excuses for denying them equal rights. . . . “

The imbroglio began Sept. 21 when Allred was staying at the hotel in the World Trade Center under a package deal that advertised free use of the fitness center. She said that her doctor had advised her to treat a sore throat with steam “since I was scheduled to appear on a Baltimore television show.”

She said she was denied entrance to the steam room and was told that only men could use it. Allred said she was told that she could use the room after 7 p.m. when the center closed.

Gina Bucci, evening manager of the fitness center, said the company could not immediately comment. She added, however, that the steam room is located in the men’s locker room and no similar facility is available in the women’s room.