GLBT Civil Rights Attorneys
Equal Access To Business
If you like many members of the LGBTQ community spent years in the closet, then you likely felt an enormous sense of relief the first time you walked into a gay friendly business. Wouldn't it be nice to feel that relief and not have to be “on guard” more often? At The Dolan Law Firm, our advocates strive to help you get it by fighting hard to establish LGBTQ rights to equal access to business that California law protects.
GLBTQ Civil Rights Attorneys
We help put the 'fair' back in 'fight.'
As you may have discovered, not every business in California embraces the LGBTQ community and their friends. However, under California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act every business is prohibited from discrimination against people on the basis of sexual orientation, HIV status, gender identity, or because of someone associates with people in those and other protected categories.
Based on the so-called "lunch counter" laws originally passed after the sit-ins of the black civil rights movement decades ago, the California law protects the rights of all citizens to equal access to businesses. You need a law firm that will enforce the law against blatant bigotry:
- If a business has failed to serve you because you belong to a protected class, such as your sexual orientation;
- If a vendor has refused to sell supplies to your business because you’re part of the LGBTQ community;
- If you are a vendor who has been denied a contract with a business or commercial establishment;
- If someone has refused to cut your hair, or give you a massage, help you try on shoes, or discriminated against you or your friends or family members, in any number of other mean-spirited and petty ways, your rights to equal treatment may have been violated.
Business and Commercial Establishments
Equal Access to Business Establishments
In California it is unlawful for a business enterprise to discriminate in the provision of goods for services on the basis of one’s status as a member of the LGBTQ community. Any business which denies admission, charges different prices, or otherwise seeks to discourage fair and equal access is in violation of the law. California Civil Codes, Section 51 (b), referred to as the UNRUH Act states, “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 full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever.”
A business establishment which discriminates against members of the LGBT community and/or persons with HIV/AIDS is liable for damages including, but not limited to, non-economic damages (fear, anxiety, humiliation, grief, embarrassment, emotional distress) as well as economic damages (monetary losses, increased costs) and potentially punitive damages (penalties) for illegal conduct.
If you, or someone you know has been discriminated against in the receipt of or the denial of goods, services, or admission to businesses of public facilities, contact us for a free case evaluation.
The Dolan Law Firm has recovered over 100 Million dollars in verdicts and settlements for its clients in the areas of civil rights, personal injury, medical malpractice and employment discrimination/harassment.
Read more about our civil rights practice.
Contact the Lawyers at The Dolan Law Firm for evaluation of your legal matter if you feel that you have been denied your right to equal access.
Christopher Dolan, the founding member of The Dolan Law Firm, has been selected as the California Consumer Attorney of the Year; and has been repeatedly nominated as the San Francisco Trial Lawyer of the Year; as well as chosen as a Northern California Super Lawyer; A review of his practice and work by his peers give him the designation of “A.V.”, having the "highest legal ability" and ethics by Martindale-Hubbell.
Read more about our aggressive pursuit of civil rights for people, including our recent $60 million award in a lawsuit on behalf of Arab-Americans systematically discriminated against by FedEx Ground, the largest award for race discrimination in California and the United States.
Our lawyers work on a contingency meaning that you pay no fees or costs up-front. If we obtain a recovery on your behalf, we receive a percentage of any recovery we obtain for you. No recovery, no fee.
Learn more about California Equal Access to Commercial Establishments Law.
Read more about other areas of our GLBTQ civil rights law practice.
