Dispute over Crews Inn trans ban heads to mediation

Mediation between Moore and three transgender women who were kicked out of the club is tentatively set for Friday, Sept. 19.

The ban prompted protests outside the club on Fitzhugh Avenue.

While Moore did not respond to requests for comment, Celeste Williams, one of the three women who were barred from Crews Inn, is happy a mediation date has been set.

"I am glad it is hopefully coming to an end," she said. "This has been tough, but it was worth it to stand up against him."

Moore has already said that everyone is welcome back in his bar - a claim that Williams and Tramp aren't so quick to believe.

"This happened three years ago to another transgender woman. What's to say it won't start happening again once all of the attention goes away?" Williams said.

Moore claims that three years ago he threw out transgender performer Sierra Nicole Standridge because he thought she was someone else who had previously misbehaved in the bar.

The goal for Williams and the two other women in mediation will be to get formal assurance this type of ban will not happen again. They also want Moore to apologize for some of his comments against the transgender and drag communities.

"I think it was wrong of him to say things like, 'All drag queens are divas and they steal straight off the bar,'" Williams said. "He needs to publicly apologize for that."

But Williams isn't so sure that will happen.

"Oh please, David Moore apologize? Are you kidding me? He will never say he's sorry."

While Williams' hopes are not too high for mediation, the practice has a 75 percent success rate, according to Gary Lacefield, a former mediator for the city of Dallas.

"It all depends on the mediator," he said. "If you've got someone who is doing what they are supposed to do, and not putting their own views in there, then you've got a high likelihood for success."

Celeste Williams
Lacefield says it's a mediator's job to help the two parties see the situation in the same way and reach a resolution satisfactory to both sides. He considers it a much better option than going to trial, especially in a case like this one where damages are hard to prove.

"You think you'll be able to have your day in court and say everything you want to say, but that rarely happens," he said. "Courts are not set up to be used as a sounding board. That's a big reason why mediation is the best option."

If a resolution cannot be reached in mediation, two options remain.

According to a letter sent from the city to all parties involved, the city attorney may find that there is "reasonable cause and mediation has not been successful."

If that happens, the city attorney may seek criminal prosecution, and if found guilty, Moore and co-owner Terry Ann Seabolt would have to pay $500 fines for each instance of discrimination.

Those kicked out may also file a suit against the bar's owners. But Williams thinks mediation will be the end.

"I mean what else can I do?" she said. "Of course this is a 'he said, she said' [situation]. That's basically what it boils down to. What's more important here is that we've been able to make the community aware of what is going on."