Settlement in NYC Restaurant-Bathroom Lawsuit

May 14, 2008

Civil rights lawyers say a popular Greenwich Village restaurant has settled a lawsuit with a lesbian who said a bouncer chased her out of the women’s bathroom and forced her to leave because she looked masculine.

The Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund announced the settlement Tuesday on behalf of Khadijah (Kuh-DEE’-zhuh) Farmer.

An attorney for Caliente Cab Company did not immediately return a call for comment.

Farmer’s lawyers say the company, while denying the allegations, has agreed to pay $35,000.

They also say Caliente will add gender identity to its non-discrimination policy; amend its employee handbook with a section on customer restroom use; adopt a gender-neutral employee dress code; and train workers on the new policies.

Farmer said the incident occurred last June 24, after she attended New York City’s annual Gay Pride march.