A judge on the Florida Commission on Human Relations has declared that a clothing-optional Florida resort catering to gay and bisexual men must allow women in all areas.
Although this decision overturns a previous ruling that stated the resort did not discriminate, it is not binding until the full commission reviews it. The resort in question is the New Orleans House in Key West, and it is one of two nude resorts facing a challenge by Amita Chaudhry, a 38-year-old cisgender woman who identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Chaudhry has also filed a complaint against Key West’s Island House resort, alleging that she was denied a room rental because she does not identify as male. However, attorneys for Island House dispute this claim, stating that Chaudhry attended a Pride party at the resort in 2022 and was disruptive. They argue that Chaudhry’s actions, which included distributing fliers accusing the resort of discrimination against women, led to her removal from the property. Island House owner Bobi Lore expressed his frustration during an administrative hearing, saying, “I felt affronted by the fact that there was someone who was invited to the space and enjoying it, but while passing out literature to the detriment of our property and aggravating our guests. We eventually had the police escort her off the property.”
Chaudhry later attempted to rent a room at Island House but was informed that the resort was fully booked. The current status of her complaint against Island House remains unclear.
Both Island House and New Orleans House have areas accessible to women, but they restrict clothing-optional areas to men. Island House does offer female guests the option to stay at an adjacent guest house and use a nearby gym. An attorney for New Orleans House criticized the judge’s ruling, arguing that it infringes on the rights of male guests who prefer to be naked in the presence of other men.
Chaudhry shared her perspective with Metroweekly, saying, “Living in Key West and going through all of this, there’s this just kind of pervasive sense that I was the one in the wrong. Like I was some kind of crazy lunatic who was going against the natural order of things.”
