Louisiana Woman Sues – Restaurant Says Outfit ‘Too Revealing’

A Louisiana woman is turning to the courts to get some of her dignity back after she says she was denied service at one of her favorite Louisiana restaurants because she was told her outfit was too revealing. The case is getting a lot of scrutiny because there appears to be more than "fashion sense" in play.

Let's set the scene for you. Y'Mine McClanahan was out for dinner last July in Baton Rouge. She chose Stab's Prime Steak and Seafood in Baton Rouge as her dining destination. Y'Mine arrived at the restaurant wearing a floral two-piece outfit. The outfit featured a strapless top and an ankle-length skirt.

That outfit, according to McClanahan, was deemed inappropriate by someone she identified as the restaurant's co-owner. McClanahan says the experience left her feeling humiliated and ashamed. And to add even more insult to injury, Y'Mine says she wore that exact outfit to that exact restaurant two weeks earlier, and no one batted an eye or said anything.

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The incident is getting more scrutiny because McClanahan, who is African-American, feels she is being discriminated against. In her suit, it is alleged that when it comes to dress code enforcement, the standards favor white patrons over patrons of color. 

Is This Louisiana Woman's Outfit Too Revealing to Wear in a Restaurant?

I know you are dying to see this outfit and judge for yourself. It is pictured next to an image of an unidentified Stab's employee that was lifted from a video recorded by McClanahan herself. You can see McClanahana's photo on the left and the employee photo is on the righthand side.

In the court filings, there are reportedly eight different photos demonstrating patrons in more revealing attire than what McClanahan is accused of attempting to wear into the restaurant. To make matters worse, McClanahan said she left the restaurant immediately after being turned away and went to another establishment.

What Is Considered to be "Too Revealing" To Wear to Dinner in Louisiana?

That establishment welcomed her and her sundress without any hesitation. In summation, McClanahan is asking for a jury trial with her lawsuit that seeks relief, a declaratory judgment, and unspecified damages.  McClanahan's case is built on alleged violations of Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. That statute prohibits discrimination in public locations, violations of Louisiana state law, and negligence.

If you were the judge and jury in this case, you see the evidence in the photograph above, how would you decide?