A transgender man denied a haircut based on gender has locked down a settlement with Hawleywood’s Barber Shop in southern California.
Rose Trevis announced the pact Monday, saying he was shocked and humiliated when he visited the Long Beach shop last March, asked for a trim and got shut down based on the belief of two barbers that he was a woman.
“It was pretty surprising. Based on the location, I was kind of taken off guard,” Trevis told the Daily News Monday, referring to the shop’s location in an otherwise progressive neighborhood. “You don’t expect that.”
Trevis teamed with lawyer Gloria Allred and filed a civil rights lawsuit against Hawleywood’s on March 29.
The settlement was reached ahead of a court hearing set for Friday.
Allred said Trevis received financial damages and legal fees under the deal, but she declined to give a specific dollar amount.
“Being frowned at and denied service for a haircut based on my perceived gender was quite daunting,” Trevis said Monday during a press conference with Allred.
Trevis said he was with his domestic partner when the couple entered one of Hawleywood’s Barber Shop’s three California locations on March 4 and was told he couldn’t receive a haircut because he was a woman.
“Who says I’m a woman?” Trevis replied, according to his complaint.
“It was quite humiliating and shameful to be ridiculed and given the excuse that I couldn’t receive a haircut for that reason. I was shocked that I experienced this form of discrimination and disrespect,” Trevis said.
One staffer allegedly said the establishment was an “old school barber shop” that took pride in its policy of banning women.
“What began as an unfortunate event has ended in justice. I am very happy that I fought this battle and helped to win change and equal rights for women and individuals who are transgender,” Trevis said.
“It’s interesting to note that it took a transgender male, Rose Trevis, to stop Hawleywood’s policy and practice of discriminating against women,” Allred said.
“We commend Rose for his courage in stepping forward to end this blatant discrimination against women and those perceived to be women,” Allred continued. “Arbitrary discrimination by businesses is always wrong. And we are elated we have won this important civil rights victory against Hawleywoods.”
Under the settlement, Hawleywood’s has agreed to a permanent injunction prohibiting the denial of service to anyone due to gender or perceived gender, Allred said.
The business also agreed to discontinue advertising itself as a men only establishment, she said.
That included cutting claims off its website that described Hawleywood’s as a “men’s sanctuary.”
“One thing you won’t see at Hawleywood’s is women,” the website previously boasted, according to an exhibit provided by Allred.
“You all know how distracting a woman can be and who wants a straight razor shave with a buxom blonde in the joint?” the website said, before the settlement.
