Transgender man denied haircut at Long Beach barber shop settles discrimination suit

A transgender man who was denied a haircut at a Long Beach barber shop reached a settlement with the business, with management agreeing not to discriminate against patrons based on gender.

Rose Trevis’ Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit, filed March 29 against Hawleywood’s Barber Shop, alleged discrimination based on gender and gender identity.

In a settlement reached Tuesday, the business also agreed to pay an unspecified amount to Trevis as well as to her lawyers, compensating them for their work in the case.

According to the lawsuit, Hawleywood’s website describes the shop as a “men’s sanctuary” and includes the statement, “You all know how distracting a woman can be and who wants a straight-razor shave with a buxom blonde in the joint?”

As part of the settlement, Hawleywood’s agreed to halt any potentially discriminatory advertising.

The suit stated that Trevis -- described in the lawsuit as having a “masculine gender expression” -- and domestic partner Laura Lozano were walking in Long Beach on March 4 when they came upon Hawleywood’s on Fourth Street, and the plaintiff decided to get a haircut.

But after Trevis asked for service, a barber replied that an appointment was required. Trevis tried to have a date set to return, but the barber stared at the plaintiff and said, “We don’t cut women’s hair,” the suit alleged.

Surprised, Trevis replied, “Who says I’m a woman?”, according to the lawsuit.

The barber allegedly responded, “Like I said, we don’t cut women’s hair.”

A second barber appeared, “examined plaintiff from head to toe” and asked if he could help Trevis, the suit stated.

After that barber also said the shop did not serve women, he told Trevis that the business had the right to refuse service to anyone and that it was an “old-school barber shop” that did not serve women, according to the suit.

After Trevis and Lozano noted that the shop’s policy was discriminatory, the second barber replied, “We don’t care,” and also said “women are not even allowed in the shop,” the suit alleged.

Trevis “felt ashamed and humiliated” by Hawleywood’s denial of service, the suit stated.

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