Judge again dismisses lawsuit by man-turned-female stripper

Jace Radke

Friday, Feb. 11, 2005 | 8:56 a.m.

A stripper's lawsuit alleging that she was fired because she does not conform to the female stereotype because of her former life as a man was dismissed Thursday.

Andrea Hackett, executive director of the exotic dancer advocacy group Las Vegas Dancers Alliance, sued Deja Vu Showgirls last year seeking more than $600,000 in damages after being fired following published reports that she had undergone a sex change operation to become a woman.

U.S. District Judge James Mahan dismissed the case, saying that Hackett has not shown that she is the victim of stereotyping.

"She was fired because she went public with her background, and that destroyed the illusion," Mahan said. "I don't see it as a sexual stereotype case."

It was the second time that Mahan has dismissed the case. Hackett's attorney, Richard Segerblom, had filed an amended complaint after Mahan first dismissed the case because of a lack of behavior or acts of stereotyping by Deja Vu.

The amended complaint listed four stereotypes that Deja Vu allegedly used in firing Hackett including: that female dancers must be born female; female dancers who were born male can't be sexy; female dancers who were born male will not be accepted by male patrons; and female dancers who were born male are not real females.

Segerblom said that he wants to consult with Hackett before deciding on where to take the case next.

Hackett has been an advocate for local topless dancers and has fought against regulation measures by local government agencies.