A woman is suing a Mississippi town after she was denied a business license to open a gay bar, SeattlePi.com reported.
Pat "PJ" Newton filed a lawsuit against the mayor and six council members of Shannon, a small town in Lee County where she tried opening up a bar and cafe called O'Hara's to cater to the LGBT community.
Newton, 55, is seeking monetary damages and a business license in addition to coverage for attorney fees and court costs. She is represented by the Southern Poverty Law Center who filed the suit in U.S. District Court in Aberdeen, Miss.
In the lawsuit, it claims that Shannon Mayor Ronnie Hallmark "led a conspiracy to deny Newton a business license" and organized community opposition to O'Hara's.
It also explains that Newton was denied a license due to the city's zoning ordinance despite previously receiving a state business license and liquor permit.
On June 4, her license application was denied in a 5-1 vote with the reason being that the bar presented a public health issue and safety hazard, according to Southern Poverty Law Center lawyer David Dinielli.
"We believe that is an illegitimate reason and pretext for the real reason," Dinielli said.
In addition, Newton claims she was told by Hallmark that her meeting in June to discuss her plans was going to be with several council members. Instead, she showed up to a room full of 30-40 people, some of which were protesters.
"For over 30 minutes, Aldermen and citizens launched a series of hostile questions and comments directed at Newton," the lawsuit said.
Hallmark and other council members have not commented on the case.
Newton said she has run in to a "little bit" of financial struggles without income from the bar, but she hopes her lawsuit is ruled in her favor so she can make up for her losses quickly.
"Of course, I'm in it as long as it takes. I'm not going anywhere," she said of her case.
