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SPLC files lawsuit against Miss. town for denying business license for LGBT bar

SPLC files lawsuit against Miss. town for denying business license for LGBT bar

The Southern Poverty Law Center on Tuesday filed a federal lawsuit against the town of Shannon, Miss., its mayor and its aldermen for denying a business license to a bar catering to the LGBT community.

The complaint describes how the town of Shannon and its leaders denied a business license to Pat Newton, a lesbian, who owns O’Hara’s bar, in violation of her right to free speech and equal protection under the First and 14th Amendments.

Shannon-MS“The mayor and aldermen have no legitimate reason to deny Pat Newton the business license,” said David Dinielli, SPLC deputy legal director. “Their opposition is rooted in blatant hostility toward a legitimate business, simply because a lesbian would operate it and because it would serve the LGBT community.”

“They have discriminated against our client, even relishing the opportunity to discriminate,” said Dinielli.

According to the SPLC, one alderman has stated that the town, which struggles with a shrinking tax base, welcomes the prospect of fighting a federal lawsuit rather than allow a revenue-generating gay bar to operate within the town’s boundaries.

The complaint refers to him stating that he is looking forward to this lawsuit because litigation would likely delay the opening of O’Hara’s even longer.

Newton, 55, operated a bar called O’Hara’s in the community from 1994 to 1998, and it mainly served LGBT customers. After receiving numerous requests to reopen the bar, she entered into a lease and obtained a state business license and liquor license. She poured thousands of dollars and countless hours into upgrading the bar and preparing for its opening.

When she asked about obtaining a local business license, the mayor told her to submit an application and attend a board of aldermen meeting on June 4, when the board would vote on her application. Newton thought the hearing would be routine, but instead she encountered a hostile crowd of 30 to 40 people.

At the hearing, an adviser to the town informed the board that Newton had met all the requirements for her application but that the application could be denied on public health and safety concerns.

The board denied the application by a 4-to-1 vote – even though no legitimate evidence regarding public health and safety was presented.

The complaint alleges that city officials had denied earlier applicants’ requests to reopen the same gay bar while permitting bars that are unaffiliated with LGBT people to operate.

“I simply want to open a business in Shannon that would mean so much to so many people,” Newton said. “I was asked by people within this community to open this bar. I’ve met all of the town’s requirements. It’s sad that town officials have chosen to engage in ugly, discriminatory behavior that doesn’t represent the town I know.”

Since entering into a lease in May, Newton has expanded and repaired the bar’s parking lot, replaced deteriorating wood with siding, cleared outside lots filled with trash, and made other improvements.

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