Twilo's Management Criticized For Gender Identity Discrimination

Press Release April 9, 2001
New Gay Democrats Of America
http://www.mikeschiller.com/GayDem/
publicrelations@mikeschiller.com
New York, NY
For Release: Immediately

In a letter sent New York State Senator Tom Duane, NYAGRA (New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy), and the Village Voice; outspoken author and NGDA President Mike Schiller (who is also a former staffer of the Limelight and Palladium nightclubs) criticized Twilo's management for their decision to fire Amanda Lepore and Sophia LaMar for reasons related to their transgendered identity. Amanda LePore and Sophia LaMar are suing Twilo for violating the New York City Human Rights Ordinance. An article detailing the lawsuit was published in this week's Villiage Voice.

The transcript of Mike Schiller's letter follows:

"As a former executive assistant at the Limelight and Palladium nightclubs, I wish to write you to express dissapointment at Twilo's decision to fire Amanda Lepore and Sophia "LaMar" Munoz due to their transgendered identity, both of whom I have had the pleasure of working with. While upsetting, Twilo's actions do not come as a surprise. Twilo is severely mismanaged. Twilo's inconsistent and occasionally inexplicable business practices have alienated them from the rest of the nighclub industry over the years. Twilo is the only nightclub in new York which refuses to operate by the same code of ethics as all other nightclubs do.

Here is a list of Twilo's defections from the nightclub industry norm:

1. There is an unwritten, yet important consensus in the nightclub industry that the maximum regular cost of admission on a normal evening is $20. Some nightclubs, especially less well-known clubs, charge less to gain a competitive advantage, but $20 is the standard price without an invitation. All nightclubs with Twilo being the only exception, grant a reduced rate of $15 admission with an invitation. Twilo charges $25 admission on a normal evening, with or without an invitation. Nightclub patrons tend to follow DJ's the way "deadheads" used to follow the Grateful Dead. These are loyal patrons who never miss a performance by their preferred DJ. To overcharge the loyal customers whose presence in a nightclub shapes the mood and ambiance which makes a weekly party succesful is a practice so immoral that no nightclub other than Twilo has ever resorted to such a deplorable practice. While it is legal for Twilo to charge what they wish, thier excessive admission fees are most certianly unethical and downright greedy.

2. There is another unwritten yet sacred consensus in the nightclub industry that employees of all nightclubs are granted complimentary admission at all other nightclubs as an industry courtesy. Competing nightclubs feel they benefit from this practice becuase it provides all their empoyees a cost-free fringe benefit to working in the industry, a crucial benefit which helps nightclubs to attract and retain good employees. Twilo is the only nightlcub in New York which does not extend this courtesy to employees of other nightclubs. Most nightclubs still grant Twilo's employees complimentary admission despite the fact that Twilo does not reciprocate.

3. Twilo has removed most of the couches and chairs from their sitting areas. The club had once provided much more ample seating space for patron but has, over time, voluntarily eliminated the majority of couches and chairs. If their ludicrous cost of admission were not were not bad enough, their overcharged customers are short-changed the comfort of having enough seating available. The few seats they do have available are predominantly thin benches which are unusually uncomfortable. To make matters worse, their security personnel refuse to allow patrons to stand in the hallways to socialize, even when the patrons have no place to sit. Most of Twilo's Security personnel frequently yell at customers aggressively when patrons are seen standing in any place for too long, sitting on the floor in certain areas, or spending too much time in or near the coatcheck area or bathrooms.

Twilo already has a reputation for extremely poor customer service which has been frequently described by patrons and nightclub industry veterans alike as blatant hostility. It appears now that this hostility is being extended by management to their own employees, as well as their customers. As a veteran of the nightclub industry myself, I am not shocked given Twilo's pattern of behavior, but I am nonetheless offended and disappointed."