BEVERLY HILLS — A female songwriter says she was thrown out of the ladies room at the exclusive Beverly Hills Hotel because she was dressed like a man.
A tearful Tanya White says she was “shocked and humiliated” when she was forced to leave the woman’s bathroom and escorted off the hotel’s premises, even though a friend confirmed to hotel security she was, in fact, a woman.
The incident happened on September 23, 2007 when White was at the hotel for a birthday party for friend and actress LisaRaye McCoy.
‘I felt under attack. What began as beautiful night ended up as one of the worst nights in my life. Ever since I was forced to leave the restroom, I have felt nervous and scared about using a public restroom,” White says.
White was dressed in something she calls “the cat in the hat.” She wore a white shirt, black blazer and black pants. She also wore a black knitted cap on her head.
She says she has dressed like this most of her life, but has never been forced to leave a restroom or any other place because of the way she dresses. “I felt dehumanized, especially because no one ever asked me any questions and never asked for my I.D.
To be called “it” and then forced to leave the restroom made me furious,” White says. “I never want to be treated with such disrespect again because of how I choose to dress.”
White and her attorney Gloria Allred, say they want the posh Beverly Hills Hotel to apologize and change its current policy about dress codes.
White says if she receives an apology from the hotel, she will not seek a financial settlement or file a lawsuit in the case.
White is a songwriter, producer and recording artist who has written songs for Janet Jackson, Babyface, and Seal.
CLICK HERE FOR TANYA’S STATEMENT
