A University of Iowa student says that a local bar wouldn't let her dance on a platform because she was "not pretty enough" and "obviously pregnant," despite expressing she was not, the Iowa City Press-Citizen reports.
Jordan Ramos, 21, describes herself as a plus-sized woman, but she never imagined her weight would become an issue at Union Bar, a downtown Iowa City establishment, where bouncers would deny her the option of dancing with her friends atop a small stage -- twice.
Ramos visited the bar on March 3 and again on April 4 and experienced the same discrimination both times, she said. The second time, a bouncer allegedly told her she couldn't dance because she was "obviously pregnant.
"They knew I was not pregnant; it was their way of calling me fat without having to actually say it," Ramos told ABC News.
And according to Ramos, other plus-sized women have had similar experiences.
The woman reached out to the Human Rights Commission in Iowa City, but according to the organization weight discrimination isn't illegal, ABC News reports.
But that's not stopping Ramos from taking a stand for herself and others.
"I understand that obesity is unhealthy, and I'm not condoning it," she told the Daily Iowan. "What I am trying to do is say that we are all human beings, and we all deserve to be treated equally."
The Iowa City Press-Citizen reached out to George Wittgraf, the owner of Union Bar, who said he was not familiar with the situation but disapproved of the employee's alleged behavior.
Nevertheless, Ramos is planning a rally in front Union Bar on May 4, where she says she hopes to ensure the bar not only makes a formal commitment to prohibit any form of discrimination in the future, but issues an apology to anyone who's received sub-par treatment in the past, the Daily Iowan reports.