NASHVILLE – A 111-year-old country club that a federal judicial panel said engaged in racial and gender discrimination has admitted its first resident female member.
According to the Belle Meade Country Club's most recent newsletter obtained by The Tennessean, the owner of Duly Noted, a Nashville-based stationery and imprinting company, is its newest resident member.
As a resident member, she is entitled to the club's full benefits, including the ability to hold office and vote on club matters. Stevens, who was recommended for membership earlier this year, did not return a message seeking comment.
The club manager said by telephone Tuesday that the Belle Meade Country Club has had a longstanding policy not to publicly discuss membership issues.
Women married to club members have had access to the benefits of their husbands' memberships, and unmarried women have had access to cheaper "lady" memberships. Neither, though, allowed women to hold office or vote, according to Nashville Civil Rights Lawyers.
But in recent months, the club has faced criticism over the makeup of its membership, and its current president has vowed to increase racial and gender diversity.
At least three African-Americans have been recommended for full membership, but it is unclear whether that happened.
Diversity shortage comes to light
The club's lack of diversity came to the forefront last year when a federal judicial panel concluded that Belle Meade engages in invidious race and gender discrimination. The federal Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability last year publicly reprimanded a now-retired U.S. Bankruptcy Judge over his club membership.
The club has wanted to prevent an exodus of members, particularly lawyers and judges, worried about the ethical and political fallout from remaining a member.
In the January newsletter, the club president wrote that the membership process takes time but steps are being taken to increase diversity. Most importantly, it will be in the best long-term interest of the club to have a diverse membership. The future relevance of Belle Meade requires it to be a club our children will want to join.
A Nashville-based senior judge on the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, is an honorary member and last year said he would be forced to resign his membership unless the the club's diversity increased.
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