Barbiere Barbershop's Owner (Photo : YouTube)
A Pennsylvania high-class gentleman's barbershop, known as a "men's space" where guys drink cold beers and talk sports, was fined $750 for refusing to give a woman a haircut. A state investigator imposed a $750 fine on the Pittsburgh Metropolitan business even though the owner claimed that he never intended the upscale barbershop's men-only policy to promote gender discrimination.
The Washington County business is not a run-of-the-mill establishment to get a haircut and a shave. The interior of Barbiere includes a macho atmosphere where guys can relax with a free cold beer or cocktail.
One client described the shop as a place where men could escape their everyday lives. They often enjoyed "guy talk" about topics such as sports.
The woman who was refused a haircut filed an official complaint. It was with Pennsylvania State's Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, according to CBS Pittsburgh.
The agency investigated the business and interviewed the shop's owner, Johnny Interval. It then issued the fine for gender bias.
Interval said that he was not intentionally trying to discriminate against women. He wanted to maintain a barbershop for men. The shop's owner also explained that he did not own equipment to cut a woman's hair, according to The Telegraph.
He argued that he was unaware that he was required by law to provide service to both men and women, but he wants to be law-abiding. Thus, he intends to pay the fine.
Interval does not expect a spike in female customers. He said that he is not opposed to cutting women's hair, but he does not want to do it in his barbershop.
In fact, he claimed that he wants to open an women-only hair salon where men would be prohibited. Interval would serve free champagne and mimosas (champagne and fruit juice) there.
