News Item

TS sues Portland Health club for discrimination

January 30 2004

PORTLAND - A transsexual has filed a $1 million discrimination lawsuit against the owners of a suburban athletic club because she was ordered to leave the club after she changed in the women's locker room.

Lori Buckwalter filed the lawsuit Wednesday against the Cascade Athletic Club and Mark and Frank Eisenzimmer.

Buckwalter, a manager in the Multnomah County Department of Business and Community Services, said she joined the club last year and worked out several times without incident.

But as she exited the women's locker room Dec. 15, the Eisenzimmers confronted her. Mark Eisenzimmer told her that he thought she was a man and told her not to use the women's room any more, then ordered her out of the club, the lawsuit said.

Buckwalter accuses the Eisenzimmers of violating a Multnomah County ordinance that prohibits discriminating on the basis of gender identity.

Three years ago, Buckwalter received the Mayor's Human Rights Award for pushing to expand Portland and Multnomah County civil rights ordinances to prohibit discrimination against transsexuals.

Mark Eisenzimmer said he had not seen the lawsuit. But he said he did ask Buckwalter to show legal proof of her gender.

"We have had a situation before with people cross-dressing using the women's locker room," he said. "We do have a right to ask."

Eisenzimmer said he since has learned that Buckwalter is legally a woman. "That's fine, and she's welcome here at the club," he said.