California Supreme Court rules in Bernardo Heights CC case.

In early August, the California State Supreme Court ruled that clubs must offer equal treatment to gay and lesbian members who currently have registered domestic partners just as they do to married couples.

This case began when a member, Birgit Koebke, challenged the guest policy at Bernardo Heights Country Club. Under this policy, spouses, children, and grandchildren could play golf for free. However, Birgit's registered domestic partner was limited to guest play six times per year at a cost of $70 per round.

Reversing two previous lower court decisions, the California State Supreme Court ruled that the policy of the club constitutes "impermissible marital status discrimination." Referencing the recently-enacted "Domestic Partner Act," the main purpose of which was to create legal equality between domestic partners and spouses, the court interpreted this policy as discriminatory against registered domestic partners. The court explained that registered domestic partnership is a "formalized, public, and verifiable" legal status that provides businesses an easy way to differentiate them from "friends" or "significant others."

The decision could also be applied to other industries such as insurance and financial lenders.

To read the entire California State Supreme Court decision, please visit www.courtinfo.ca.gov/opinions/documents/S124179.PDF.