home > newsroom ACLU of Utah and Little America Hotel Reach Settlement FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday August 1, 2001 SALT LAKE CITY--Today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah announced that they have negotiated a settlement with Little America Hotel on behalf of Larry Sissy Goodwin, a cross-dresser who had been restrained by hotel security last year. On April 17, 2000, Mr. Goodwin, a Wyoming resident, was in Salt Lake City for business related to his work at a power company. That evening, he took advantage of his free time by visiting the Little America Hotel gift shop to find a gift for his wife. As is his preference when he is engaged in casual and social activities, he was wearing a tennis skirt and blouse. According to Mr. Goodwin, hotel security confronted him and asked him to leave the store, and, when he protested that he had done nothing wrong, restrained him in handcuffs and summoned the police. It was later reported to the press that Mr. Goodwin had engaged in lewd behavior. Believing that the incident and the charges occurred solely because his appearance did not conform to cultural norms, Mr. Goodwin sought the assistance of the ACLU of Utah. In a statement released today, hotel officials wrote: “Little America and Mr. Goodwin have arrived at a mutually agreeable settlement of this matter. While the terms of the settlement are confidential, Little America wishes to correct any misimpression created by prior public statements. Mr. Goodwin did not engage in any lewd or lascivious conduct at the time this incident occurred. The employee who made such statements is no longer working for Little America.” Speaking from his home in Wyoming, Mr. Goodwin said, “I am pleased that the employee is no longer working at Little America and that we have come to an amicable resolution of this unfortunate incident.” --end--

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