Transgender Man Sues Long Beach Barber Shop Over 'No Women Allowed' Policy

LOS ANGELES, CA - A transgender man who was denied a haircut at a Long Beach barber shop sued the business Tuesday, claiming the employees said they did not cut women's hair and that females were not allowed in the shop.

Rose Trevis' Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit against Hawleywood's Barber Shop alleges discrimination based on gender and gender identity. The suit seeks unspecified damages.

The shop's owner did not immediately return a phone message asking him for comment.

According to the lawsuit, Hawleywood's website describes the shop as a "men's sanctuary" and includes the statement, "You all know how distracting a woman can be and who wants a straight-razor shave with a buxom blonde in the joint?"

The suit states that Trevis -- described in the lawsuit as having a "masculine gender expression" -- and domestic partner Laura Lozano were walking in Long Beach on March 4 when they came upon Hawleywood's on Fourth Street, and the plaintiff decided to get a haircut.

But after Trevis asked for service, a barber replied that an appointment was required. Trevis tried to have a date set to return, by the barber stared at the plaintiff and said, "We don't cut women's hair," the suit alleges.

Surprised, Trevis replied, "Who says I'm a woman?," according to the lawsuit.

The barber allegedly responded, "Like I said, we don't cut women's hair."

A second barber appeared, "examined plaintiff from head to toe" and asked if he could help Trevis, the suit states.

After that barber also said the shop did not serve women, he told Trevis that the business had the right to refuse service to anyone and that it was an "old-school barber shop" that did not serve women, according to the suit.

After Trevis and Lozano noted that the shop's policy was discriminatory, the second barber replied, "We don't care," and also said "women are not even allowed in the shop," the suit alleges.

Trevis "felt ashamed and humilated" by Hawleywood's denial of service, the suit says.

--City News Service, photo via Shutterstock