Emgaine Palladium Relaxes Teen Policy

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Teens who want to see “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2,” which opens nationwide this weekend, will have get a note from their parents or legal guardians if they want to see it at the new Emagine Palladium Theatre in Birmingham.

The permission slip acknowledges the parents will be responsible for the conduct of their children, and allows them to attend movies at the theater at any time, providing they follow common courtesy guidelines, WJBK-TV reports.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan challenged the policy as discriminatory and a violation of Michigan’s law on public accommodations that prohibits discrimination on age.

In a statement last month, ACLU of Michigan deputy legal director Dan Korobkin wrote that “discrimination against teens based on blanket stereotypes is not only wrong, it is illegal.”

“They should be able to watch a film without being targeted because of their age or banned because their families may not be able to afford a pricey annual membership,” Korobkin wrote.

Related

• Annoying Teens Prompt New Policy at Emagine Palladium
• ACLU: Emagine’s ‘Tough Love’ Policy Violates Civil Rights Act

Emagine co-founder Paul Glantz told WJBK that the permission slip, available on the theater’s website, strikes a middle ground.

“This adjustment in our policy is designed to protect the moviegoing experience, while concurrently, again, embracing all those in the neighborhood who might like to attend, irrespective of race, color, creed, religion or even economic mean,” he said. “And, so, I think this is the right thing to do.”