Leisure World in Seal Beach Named in Age Bias Lawsuit

The State Department of Fair Employment and Housing has filed suit against the governing body of Leisure World in Seal Beach on behalf of a couple who charged that the retirement community discriminates against spouses younger than 55.

Alfred and Mary Gray charged in a complaint to the state that Mary, 53, was barred from using Leisure World’s swimming pool, bus system and other facilities and couldn’t join the Friends of the Library.

According to the bylaws of the Golden Rain Foundation, Leisure World is a retirement community for residents 55 years and older. Spouses younger than 55 may be “qualified residents” but may not use a variety of the community’s facilities.

Mary Gray said she was glad the lawsuit has been filed.

“I think Leisure World should recognize what the state told them they should do,” and allow her to use the facilities, she said.

Gray, who lost her husband to cancer on Wednesday, a day after the suit was filed, said he had wanted her to pursue the fight.

“He was very adamant,” she said. “He wanted me to pursue the lawsuit to the end, and when we won to drink a toast to him.”

Officials and attorneys for the Golden Rain Foundation could not be reached for comment about the suit.

But earlier, George Brown, mayor of Seal Beach and a leader of the Leisure World community, said the Grays “knew about (the rules) in advance. They knew what they were doing when they signed up.”

Gray said that shortly after her husband’s death, a security official came to their home to pick up his identification card, leaving her with what she called her “second-class-citizen card.” It allows her to travel from the community’s gate to her home, but not by the Leisure World shuttle.