Discouraging Bias in Clubs

Large private clubs that close their doors to people on the basis of sex, race, religion and ethnic background will lose their liquor licenses if Gov. George Deukmejian signs AB 2187 into law. The governor’s signature would get the state out of the business of sanctioning discrimination.

The bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman (D-Tarzana), would ban the renewal or the issuance of liquor licenses to restrictive private clubs that operate something like public accommodations. The new law would apply to large clubs, with 400 members or more, that provide regular meal service and accept payment on behalf of non-members in the furtherance of trade or business.

The measure parallels local ordinances--including recently approved laws in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York--that prohibit discrimination in larger clubs functioning as restaurants and hotels. The New York City ordinance, which requires private clubs with more than 400 members to obey the laws prohibiting discrimination in public accommodations, was upheld in June by the U.S. Supreme Court. The court ruled that private clubs cannot automatically exclude women, blacks, Jews, Latinos, Asians, American Indians or other minorities. That ruling prompted some token integration and cracked, although barely, a few doors.

Deukmejian should sign AB 2187 on behalf of every Californian to provide another prod to the large private clubs.