[keat]

[mass55th]

She looks like a hippopotamus, why doesn't she start a local chapter of the Hippos?

[noobiangod]

And Mike Tyson or Kobe Bryant should be allowed to join the Girl Scouts too.

[MadeInAmerica]

Hey, the headline says woman....where is the pics of a woman? Very misleading.

[A Balrog of Morgoth]

Well, in that case, I demand admission into the Association of Hispanic Women Engineers.

[Redleg Duke]

What part of "all-male club" seems to escape your comprehension?

[TXFireman]

"and several Elks members say her gender is all that kept her out of the club..."

Used to be that people had sexes and words had genders...

[Always Right]

The only place I know where no one is denied admission is the Paris Hilton.

[American Quilter]

"I realize that there are a lot of old-timers out there," said the 55-year-old Arancibia. "But I didn't think it was still like this. It's sad, really."

It's sad that Ms. Arancibia thinks she should be allowed to force her way into a private organization that doesn't want her. It's sad that she doesn't respect the wishes of the members whose club she wants to join.

Why doesn't she start her own club, if what she wants is to be of service to the community?

[Prost1]

I do not believe there is any government money involved in the Elk's activities. Nor, do they use public property.

So, under the right of free association, guess what?

They can freely choose with whom to associate!

Give the lady and Elk burger and say goodbye!

[Ben Mugged]

The Elk membership policy states in part "To be eligible for membership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, you must be a citizen of the United States over the age of 21 who believes in God." Nothing about male or female. Our Elks club is the largest in California and we accept female applicants and have a number of well respected female members. We do reject applicants both male and female however through the selection process.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Ping-a-Ling! :) (Or are you a Moose Lodge Gal? I can't remember...)

[wallcrawlr]

ever heard of the lady elks?

[clamper1797]

She would be very welcome to join the clampers ... NOT

[50sDad]

[REAL WORLD] "Man denied membership at all-female health club."

"Men have no business trying to apply at our private health club," said the 55-year-old Arancibia. "But it's for women only, and we don't admit men. Deal with it." [/READ WORLD]

The double standard no one will ever bring up. Why the hell not college bathrooms that are co-ed by stall, for God's sake? There are women's clubs for this woman...her only goal is "taking down" the men's only facility.

[Gtown]

The Elks thing reminds me...I once heard Joe Buck broadcasting a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game. When his partner took a moment to recognize a large group of Elks who were there for the game, Joe said, "My father (Hall of Fame broadcaster Jack Buck) was an Elk - and a Lion, and a Moose, as well as a Buck. I used to charge the kids in the neighborhood a quarter just to come in the house and look at him asleep on the couch!"

[FormerLib]

"There was a particular individual who stood up and urged members not to vote for females..."

Combine freedom of speech with freedom of association and this can be one of the results.

And what if it really was just this one female that most members didn't want? Is that allowed, I wonder?

[toddlintown]

tough titty.

[lepton]

Arancibia and several Elks members say her gender is all that kept her out of the club, located at 1910 M St.

It was probably her sex too.

[UPcrawfish]

The ELKS Lodge which I have been a member of for 12 years now began admitting women about 6 years ago as full members. (hey, they let me in, requirements can't be too strict)

The first women admitted were wives of members who had been officers in the Womens Auxiliary know as "The Does".

The Does had their own rituals and procedures separate and apart from the ELKS. Since then, women had been admitted from outside the Does and have held the highest positions within the Lodge... FREE SPEECH - FREE ASSOCIATION - SECRET BALLOTS - What more can you ask for??

[calex59]

Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't there all women organizations in the US that won't allow men to enter? I am sure there are several around. If this is the case what complaint does this person have? Since when does a private club have to comply with PC rules? Down with PC, up the republic.