A few months ago Rob Anders, an airline industry employee, won Northwest tickets for him and a companion. He recently tried to use the tickets to travel from Los Angeles to Florida to visit his mother with his registered domestic partner. Northwest refused to honor the tickets because Anders’ travel companion was not ” a spouse, another airline employee or a dependent child.”

“What happened to Mr. Anders and his partner violates California law and is clearly discriminatory,” said Christine P. Sun, ACLU of Southern California staff attorney. “We are asking that the company not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or marital status and honor Mr. Anders’ ticket for him and a companion.”

The ACLU cited the Unruh Civil Rights Act, which mandates “full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever” without regard to sexual orientation or marital status.