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Recent Articles By Patricia Calhoun

National Features

Steve Horner did not attend the monthly meeting of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission on Monday. I knew this without even talking to Horner, because the meeting actually concluded — and if he'd been there, the seven appointed commissioners would still be stuck in their conference room, listening to Horner drone on about how the inequities of ladies' nights are directly tied to most of the world's ills. Or, as he puts it: "Feminism is Marxism, which creates terrorism through its inherent double standards, creating anger, confusion, resentment, feelings of betrayal and, ultimately, revenge and violence."

But Horner wasn't there Monday; he was showing his visiting son around the city that the anti-ladies'-night crusader has called home for the past year, stopping off in LoDo, enjoying "a smoke and a beer" at the Celtic Tavern. And since Horner wasn't there, the commission made it through the weightier agenda items involving truly horrendous instances of discrimination to item "VI a) Discussion and action by the Commission regarding ladies night." And it did take action: "Ladies' night promotions may not involve price differentials or other differential treatment based on a protected class, whatever the intent," reads the resolution it adopted. "The Commission strongly discourages ladies' night promotions and recommends instead that establishments consider neutral promotions involving perhaps free or reduced admissions to a limited number of customers who appear before a certain time."

Just what this state needs: bar specials designed by bureaucrats.

"We felt that we had bigger fish to fry," admits Dr. Delio Tamayo, who chairs the commission. "But bars and restaurants need to look at creative ways to make a more even playing field."

The commission was first introduced to Horner after he filed a complaint with the Division of Civil Rights last fall, claiming that a local nightclub's ladies' night specials violated the state public-accommodations statute. Ultimately, the commission decided that while that might be so — that ladies' night deals unfairly benefit one gender, even though bars only use the deals to lure in more members of the opposite sex — it had no statutory authority to award Horner damages. But with this resolution, the commission has handed Horner a nice, big club he can use in his continued campaign to beat bars into submission.

He can use it to take another swing at the Division of Civil Rights, where he recently filed another complaint regarding a promotion at an adult club, advertised by Clear Channel, that gave participants in a strip contest free drinks — but only allowed women to participate. So, if that contest were open to everyone before a certain time — the commission's suggestion for an equitable resolution — would he join in? "I wouldn't be a part of that," Horner says. "It would be like watching Norm on Cheers. Wouldn't be much of an attraction."

I'll drink to that.

And he can swing that club again in civil lawsuits, now that the commission has determined that ladies' night promotions are "an illegal practice." He currently has several complaints pending in Denver County Court against clubs that advertise ladies' nights, as well as against Westword — for 32 instances of advertising that mention ladies' night.

Forget free drinks: How about free speech?

Write Your Comment show comments (33)

  1. This is a "Free Speech" violation? If a club advertised that blacks weren't allowed or were even discouraged from coming, would that be a "free speech" violation, or wouldn't it rather be an advertisement that they intended on breaking the law.

    We've seen barbers busted for charging different rates for men's and women's haircuts, but charging women nothing for drinks is OK?

    Try dropping the hypocritical, double standard, misandronistic sexism.

    Comment by Richard Sol — June 28, 2007 @ 11:00AM

  2. What a complete waste of time for a practice that causes no harm to anyone. This clown must be distressed that no bar offers "asshat night" so he can get discounted drinks. Another blow to common sense and an egregious example of political correctness gone wild.

    Comment by Dalton Trumbo — June 28, 2007 @ 11:13AM

  3. I support this guy... "Ladies Nights" ARE unfair.

    Comment by Nick — June 28, 2007 @ 11:14AM

  4. "Feminism is Marxism, which creates terrorism through its inherent double standards, creating anger, confusion, resentment, feelings of betrayal and, ultimately, revenge and violence."

    I am a guy first off... but the same could be said about masculanisism. Basically, this is exactly what he is doing, so ipso facto, he should be arrested on grounds of Terrorism. He is in my view, creating double standards, creating anger, confusion, resentment, feelings of betrayal, which will inherently lead to revenge and violence.


    Just give out womens nights, I dun care, really I don't, guys get the bars the other 5 nights of the week here :)

    Comment by Terry — June 28, 2007 @ 11:18AM

  5. So during the council meeting, this fellow was out "having a smoke and a beer". He should do so while he can.

    Apparently he doesn't realize that because of lawsuits filed by people like him, people who feel the imposition of their own standards on others is the right and proper course, soon no one will be able to enjoy a smoke and a beer anywhere except their own home - and then only if they live alone.

    I hear bars pay for so-called "entertainers" to appear at their location on weekends. Perhaps they should be forced to pay the rest of us for showing up too - after all, who creates the atmosphere and ambience of a bar on Saturday night if not the patrons.

    Comment by FNA — June 28, 2007 @ 11:31AM

  6. What an idiot. This is just going to end up making it worse for guys as a) guys often buy drinks for women and b) There won't be as many women going out. Here's one for thinking it through big guy!

    (idiot)


    ~brandon

    Comment by Brandon — June 28, 2007 @ 12:17PM

  7. I think this might be the same Steve Horner who did the exact same thing in the Twin Cities in the 1980's.

    Comment by John — June 28, 2007 @ 12:25PM

  8. The best way for bars to get around this stupid ruling is to abolish "ladies night" and have a "Skirt Night" then the special is not based on gender but on wardrobe... (the few guys willing to dressed appropriatly, a kilt usally passes muster, also get the special).

    It gets the job done, and technically doesn't discriminate....

    Comment by Chris Adams — June 28, 2007 @ 12:47PM

  9. It is such a shame that Americans have forgotten what private property is. I live in South Florida, where the staff and partons speak Spanish, and make it clear that those who do not speak Spanish are not entirely welcome. In other bars, the preferred language is Haitian Creole. Old people are not welcome in young people's clubs. Young people are not welcome retirement communities. In all instances, the property owners are exercising their freedom of association rights. Following the 'logic' of clowns like this, why not ban the tradition of men paying for women's dinners and movie tickets on dates? If you are going to enforce equality, why stop halfway? Open a door for a woman: $25 fine and two points on your driver license. Ask a woman out, rather than wait until she asks you: $50 fine and listing on the sexual predators' list. Might as well make men and women wear the same undergarments and ban different wardrobes for men and women. Ditto bathing suits. This country is fast becoming like Kurt Vonnegut's "Harrison Bergeron."

    Comment by Chydenius — June 28, 2007 @ 12:48PM

  10. Way to go! Women get enough free stuff as it is and they do little to nothing besides complain and take advantage of men and their bank accounts. As far as I'm concerned, they're lucky we don't make them sleep in the garage. How about Mens' Night? We do all the work. NoMaam has spoken.

    Comment by Al Bundy — June 28, 2007 @ 01:27PM

  11. I think the writer of this article is just a little too bitter. Equal rights are equal rights, and are a good thing. If women can't get into clubs for free, then the women that ARE there are more likely to be more into that kind of lifestyle, and will probably be easier to get into the sack. For the women that go, and now have to pay the same price as men to get in, you will be more in demand, since many women can be expected to engage themselves elsewhere. If the club or bar benefits from city ordinances and taxes, and gets customer traffic due to its proximity to other business, it has to abide by all laws without exception. If it is in the middle of nowhere, and is purely self sustaining, then that is another matter.

    Comment by Jeff — June 28, 2007 @ 01:28PM

  12. WOoooooow that guy must have one smmmmmaaaaallll...ok I said I was going to be mature. All the same, since the purpose of the whole thing is to draw more men, who come in hopes of finding women, and then offer to buy them drinks...I think it's arguable who is benifiting/not benefiting from these specials. Aside from that, I can't recommend strongly enough that this man stay away from dark alleys near bars. I personally don't even drink or frequent these establishments, but I still hope you keep this guy away from Texas. It will all end in blood and tears if he heads over here, I'm sure.

    Comment by Gertie — June 28, 2007 @ 01:49PM

  13. Besides the obvious comments about how retarded this guy is and how he's destroying the rights of private businesses to have promotions to bring in customers...

    The article says he went out for "a smoke and a beer" at the Celtic Tavern. Well.... it's quite illegal to smoke in bars in Colorado. Slap this douchebag with a ticket, please. I thought he was some sort of 'expert' on everything that can happen in a bar.

    Comment by Devon — June 28, 2007 @ 03:16PM

  14. 'The Making of an Angry White Guy'
    Minneapolis/St. Paul/July 30, 1997

    http://citypages.com/databank/18/869/article3694.asp

    Does the small photo look like the same 'guy'?

    Comment by Jack Neville — June 28, 2007 @ 03:41PM

  15. What a clown! Totally Fark. Just read a pretty good article at Wikihow on how to start an online store http://www.wikihow.com/Start-an-Online-Store

    Comment by The Robot Collector — June 28, 2007 @ 03:58PM

  16. Somehow, I seriously doubt this man gets laid anyways, but after this he might as well really give up the ghost and buy himself a second blowup betty. You've gotta love rejection from the opposite sex masked as a political agenda for "equal rights". Some loser ruining everyone else's time, especially a loser who has only been in Denver for a year, feels the needs to push his agenda, and probably doesn't even know the area all that well himself, nor the culture. As the article suggested, it isn't politician's job's to determine bar promotions, last time I checked, bars were private industry, not a government non-profit and we weren't practicing goverment, Socialistic control of said private businesses. It's sad this balding, leprous looking douche dupped some woman into having a kid with him, she's probably still held hostage, barefoot in his kitchen, or washing his skiddy underwear somewhere.

    Comment by Kat — June 28, 2007 @ 04:52PM

  17. You bastard. You worthless, meddling, ugly, obnoxious bastard. Just because you can't get laid, you have to ruin innocent fun for as many people as possible. And you're not going to stop there, you sniveling bastard, are you? You are going to continue to do whatever you can to ruin peoples' lives by trying to control what they do. It's about control, isn't it, you obstreporous bastard? Had a taste of power and you like it, don't you? What do you do again, you're a mail clerk or something? You're the kind of an asshat who goes to a whorehouse and then wants to take it out on society at large when nobody there will service you.
    Get a life and leave people alone, you stupid bastard.

    Comment by Mighty Mike O. — June 28, 2007 @ 06:49PM

  18. A reminder that Ladies' Nights have been illegal in Boulder since, what, 1980? And nobody's worse off for it. Anthony's Garden, a bar in what's now the Millennium Hotel, switched to "Skirt Night": a free drink for anyone sporting a skirt, regardless of gender. It was a hoot!

    Comment by Davide Andrea — June 28, 2007 @ 07:14PM

  19. Dude just needs to get laid.

    Comment by Mae — June 28, 2007 @ 09:57PM

  20. It's great learning from many of the above comments that more and more people are finally understanding the benefits of the element of consistency in law enforcement:What the law means for Monday,also means it's in place for Tuesday,and What's good for the goose,is good for the gander.To underscore yesterday's Supreme Court ruling concerning public school admissions: You can't do away with discrimination by continuing to discriminate. Amen.However,unfortunately, from reading some of the above comments,there are still those who equate consistent law enforcement with sexual privileges:apparently they're the ones who need to give women monetary considerations to receive sexual favors;very pathetic situation: same as prostitution. Oh well, there will be the lo-lifers who are in it for nothing other than short-term,self-serving reasons...no brighter than a doorknob.For the rest of you,I hope you're seeing how one man CAN make a difference in today's world;it's called being EVER VIGILANT which is what is necessary for a healthy, free society to exist.It's the antithesis of apathy. When you don't like the laws or how the laws are being enforced(or not enforced)it's your job to make noise and be a hero,not a sap as the saps would want you to be.And,believe me, the saps are out there. For instance,when I read a story about civil rights violations recently in the Denver Post,I saw that the Colorado ACLU director, Katherine Hazouri, was quoted as saying she's all for civil rights.But when I phoned Ms. Hazouri and reminded her that she and her office refused to support my pleas for civil rights protection in the ladies'night issue,she explained to me that the reason she didn't is because "You're full of shit." then she hung up on me.So, you see, as far as the saps are concerned,some people are deserving of civil rights,and others aren't and the saps believe they're in charge of deciding who gets to receive civl rights and who doesn't.Well, not in my bar she doesn't.Here,we ALL receive equal treatment under the law.And,as far as the no-smoking ban in bars are concerned,the bar lobby are sheep bowing to the whims of the do-gooders.I've offered my public relations services to the local bar and restaurant associations to fight to allow them freedom to ban smoking or allow smoking as provided by anti-trust laws,but they bow out like sheep because "We don't want to look bad to the public." Meanwhile,they complain about me standing up for my rights:cowardly hypocrites.For the whole story on how our rights are being navigated by the feminists who truly are Marxists in nature,hook up with my new docu-novel: The Unusual Frank White Man.Here's the FREE code: stevehornerbooks.com/bypass/UnusualFrankWhite.pdf(case sensitive);the username is thankyou and the password is enjoy.Hurry and get the free download;I'll be changing the password before long.Steve Horner

    Comment by Steve Horner — June 29, 2007 @ 12:25PM

  21. This guy is an out and out jerk...tell him to go back to California, and ride the whales or something. Get a life dude.
    Floridaboy!

    Comment by Superman — June 29, 2007 @ 02:56PM

  22. Yes, same guy, quoted from Citypages / Minneapolis, MN--his family does not even like him. "The Makings of an Angry White Guy"...

    Oh yes Mr. Horner, I am a SAP--as you accuse others of dissent in your rhetoric....but I earn my own living and not on the backs of suing people, I think I can see the SAP oozing out of you....for the ones who want to be more enlightened, see below and read the article as quoted in a comment above...if you do not like the US, leave. Or are you making too much suing places like Hooters because they won't hire you.

    "Last month, Horner broke the comfort zone of a female cop whom he met at a suburban park while she was out on a routine call. Memorizing the name on her badge, he proceeded to leave a rambling voice mail the next day, complimenting her good looks and asking for a date. The officer passed the recording on to Horner's female parole officer, who gave him "a good talking to."

    During our most recent meeting at a downtown watering hole, Horner breaks the comfort zone of a young couple trying to enjoy lunch at a nearby table. "Liberals are about pro-choice and gay rights. And what's gay rights about? It's about blow jobs and fucking in the ass," he opines, jumping from his chair to slap his knee. "That kind of stuff runs through everyone's mind just before they go to sleep at night. But let's not have parades to celebrate it! Let's not confuse our kids into thinking they have to act on their lust!"

    With his mixed bag of angry white guy polemics, Horner has even managed to alienate his own extended family. Not long ago one of his brothers looked him straight in the face and asked Horner if he believed he was Jesus Christ. Lately, he's been banished from weddings because he's "hard to be around," and his other four brothers--all married to "feminists"--have approached him about his bizarre behavior. Horner says they think he's too argumentative, too quick to bash women, too over the top and past any chance of reform. He says he can see it in their eyes. They, no doubt, can see it in his".


    You sir, are still a jerk, and now a SAP

    Floridaboy

    Comment by Superman — June 29, 2007 @ 03:09PM

  23. I can't believe that this sexist, discriminatory biggot got his way. Congratulations, jack ass, now you will still have to pay full price and have less people to harass (because that is a trait you seem to carry with you every where you go).

    More than anything, I am enraged that they really didn't give this any thought! Our state obviously doesn't care about freedom of choice or do they respect the rights of property owners. To Steve Horner and the State of Colorado, FUCK YOU.

    Comment by Chewy — June 29, 2007 @ 07:15PM

  24. I wasn't going to comment on this article because I am sick of hearing about it.
    I am sick of hearing how women have it made and how we take advantage of the "man's bank account" I am a single mom. I was a stay at home mom and have been forced back out into the work force. Am I complaining about working, of course not. I love working and I love my job.But how come this "wonderful state" can do something about this little problem called "Ladies Night" because some guy who obviously has no real problems in life, thinks it's unfair? What about the single mom who comes out of a 15 year marriage with 2 children who can't get child support on time and this wonderful state won't really do anything until he's 3 months late? By then, because there is no family here, other than her children, they could potentially be homeless by the 3rd month because she will never make as much money as the ex husband. What about that? What about the fact that he lives in the house and has yet to buy her out of her half, (that he was court ordered to do by last August) meanwhile wrecking my credit and forcing me to rent an apt. What about that? What about the fact that they have joint custody yet he doesn't follow through with most of the court orders regarding that also? But let's worry about more important things, like making some man happy by taking away ladies night. Give me a break. It must suck to be him if that's all he had to worry about!!!! My point is, get a life. Be thankful for the things in your life that are good great, because other people in the world have REAL problems!

    Comment by LeAnna — June 30, 2007 @ 03:53PM

  25. What a good and honorable thing. Knowing that this town has solved all it's problems and can now focus on those things that ruin our lives, like ladies night at a tavern. I read where this man was at a local tavern with his son.. a Celtic based tavern. This is when this all made sense to me. "If they don't play with ME lucky charms, then they play with NO MAN's lucky charms. I have solved America's terror problem, and can now focus on being overlord" Wow, I stand in awe of this. Can't wait for Mr Celtic to be introduced to ACLU, which I fear may have more money than this entire town, and is able to intervene on behalf of bar owners and their trampled rights, thus causing this town to use more of its funds to litigate. Oh yeah, sorry about your potholes, atleast there aren't any "closet terroists" here, as they are unable to hide within the confines of that dreaded "ladies night incubus". Congratulations.

    Comment by Michael Rush — July 1, 2007 @ 08:04AM

  26. OH yeah.. forgot to mention that I can't wait to see how this man's going to blame global warming on gay marriage...

    Comment by Michael Rush — July 1, 2007 @ 08:10AM

  27. In the words of Aristotle Onasis: "If there were no women, they'd be no need for money."
    The harder we try to make the sexes "the same", the less they'll be attracted to one another......unless of course they're homosexual. After all they're suppose to be the opposite sex!

    Comment by Anastasia Anselm — July 3, 2007 @ 12:15PM

  28. This guy is seriousley disturbed.Does he just hate women?Or is he useing this as a get rich type thing.Personally for my self my guy friends will not let me pay for admission in a club.. Not to mention i can drink them all under the table,so the free drinks for ladies until when ever is cool!!!!From a mans point of view why do single men go out to clubs?TO LOOK AT ALL THE PRETTY LADIES!!!!and do some bump and grindin.it makes us females feel more inclined to go to a place with some kind of specials.This guy seriousley piss's me off!!!

    Comment by Keely McCann — July 3, 2007 @ 07:45PM

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    Comment by Biswaroop Todi — July 5, 2007 @ 02:27AM

  30. I think I'll SKIP going to Bars Next Time I'm in Denver..

    Comment by Sally — July 6, 2007 @ 04:13AM

  31. Reading the above comments was illuminating in a somewhat disturbing way. Allow me to a few questions by way of explanation:

    What is the purpose of lady's nights at a bar? Charitably described, it is to increase the number of young, hopefully attractive single, "marketable" (matable)females (honeys, hereafter in this discussion) in one place. To what business purpose would one do this, you ask. As honey will draw flies, and pheromones will draw them from even farther away, the honeys in the bar will draw eager, willing (dare I say horny here?) young males who will, in increased numbers, swarm the bar buying drinks, also in increased numbers, at full price. The goal is for the bartender to sell more drinks and make more money (you've heard of capitalism??) There is no discriminatory INTENT. (And as a side effect, some guys probably go get laid that otherwise wouldn't have.)

    The lack of discriminatory intent nothwithstanding, there is a clear disparate effect by gender, which is illegal in almost all other venues other venues (If a test is failed by too many of an identifiable group, it must be too hard; the results are invalid; make it easier!! If a job requirement disqualifies too many applicants of an identifiable subgroup, it has a disparate effect; change the requirement or suffer lawsuit.) In almost any business you can think of that requires a license by a government entity, try selling the same product for different prices to different genders or different races; if you want a real thrill and some up close and personal face time with EEOC or other governement lawyers, favor males over females, or whites over blacks by price, access or in any way.)

    I don't argue that the above approach for lady's night is the best approach, or that such an approach is even desirable as it applies to private entities. BUT ANY NUMBER OF SIMILAR REDICULOUS CONTRAINTS ARE THE LAW AND COMMON PRACTICE. For the male readers of this post, WAKE UP GUYS!!! This has all been going one way, and it hasn't been "our" way. (Refer to payout for recent Wimbledon tournament champions, match rules and lengths, and ticket prices.)

    You have to start someplace, standing in the middle of the road with your arms outstretched, and hollering "ENOUGH!!" This may not have been the ideal place to start, but lacking a better start in a better place, IT WAS AT LEAST A START. And I support his efforts.

    Is the petitioner against lady's nights a jerk? Probably, at least in some people's eyes. Does he have trouble picking up women? Maybe, who among us who doesn't know him knows what his social life is like? Is he tilting at windmills and expending court/commision/council time on a relatively unimportant issue? Depends on your perspective. He is acting against a prejudice, if you will, or an unfair business practice; were the direct beneficiaries of such practice male, it would have been halted long ago. Sauce for goose, sauce also for the gander!!!!

    Comment by Carey Allison — July 12, 2007 @ 05:43PM

  32. Reading the above comments was illuminating in a somewhat disturbing way. Allow me to a few questions by way of explanation:

    What is the purpose of lady's nights at a bar? Charitably described, it is to increase the number of young, hopefully attractive single, "marketable" (matable)females (honeys, hereafter in this discussion) in one place. To what business purpose would one do this, you ask. As honey will draw flies, and pheromones will draw them from even farther away, the honeys in the bar will draw eager, willing (dare I say horny here?) young males who will, in increased numbers, swarm the bar buying drinks, also in increased numbers, at full price. The goal is for the bartender to sell more drinks and make more money (you've heard of capitalism??) There is no discriminatory INTENT. (And as a side effect, some guys probably go get laid that otherwise wouldn't have.)

    The lack of discriminatory intent nothwithstanding, there is a clear disparate effect by gender, which is illegal in almost all other venues other venues (If a test is failed by too many of an identifiable group, it must be too hard; the results are invalid; make it easier!! If a job requirement disqualifies too many applicants of an identifiable subgroup, it has a disparate effect; change the requirement or suffer lawsuit.) In almost any business you can think of that requires a license by a government entity, try selling the same product for different prices to different genders or different races; if you want a real thrill and some up close and personal face time with EEOC or other governement lawyers, favor males over females, or whites over blacks by price, access or in any way.)

    I don't argue that the above approach for lady's night is the best approach, or that such an approach is even desirable as it applies to private entities. BUT ANY NUMBER OF SIMILAR REDICULOUS CONTRAINTS ARE THE LAW AND COMMON PRACTICE. For the male readers of this post, WAKE UP GUYS!!! This has all been going one way, and it hasn't been "our" way. (Refer to payout for recent Wimbledon tournament champions, match rules and lengths, and ticket prices.)

    You have to start someplace, standing in the middle of the road with your arms outstretched, and hollering "ENOUGH!!" This may not have been the ideal place to start, but lacking a better start in a better place, IT WAS AT LEAST A START. And I support his efforts.

    Is the petitioner against lady's nights a jerk? Probably, at least in some people's eyes. Does he have trouble picking up women? Maybe, who among us who doesn't know him knows what his social life is like? Is he tilting at windmills and expending court/commision/council time on a relatively unimportant issue? Depends on your perspective. He is acting against a prejudice, if you will, or an unfair business practice; were the direct beneficiaries of such practice male, it would have been halted long ago. Sauce for goose, sauce also for the gander!!!!

    Comment by Carey Allison — July 12, 2007 @ 05:43PM

  33. What a wack job. Someone needs to catch him...

    Comment by Noah — July 24, 2007 @ 05:59PM

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