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A Scottsdale bar owner named in a discrimination lawsuit has refused to be interviewed voluntarily under oath by the Arizona Attorney General's Office.

"If the Attorney General's Office wants to talk to me, they need to serve a subpoena," said Tom Anderson, owner of Anderson's Fifth Estate Night Club.

The dispute centers around transgender patrons and the use of the club's restroom facilities.

Last year, Anderson asked Michele deLaFreniere and some other patrons to leave the night club because they "freaked out" women customers by using the women's rest rooms.

When the transgender patrons tried to use the men's room, they complained that male patrons harassed them.

"It was determined that the safest course for the protection of all was to exclude these particular individuals because their conduct was creating tension at the night club," Anderson said.

DeLaFreniere said it was a matter of discrimination and filed the complaint.

DeLaFreniere, 52, has lived as a woman since 2004.

Anderson's attorney Chuck Kelhoffer said the bar owner is accused of discrimination on the grounds of sexual stereotyping. The argument has been used primarily in employment cases, according to Kelhoffer.

Anderson said that he has no bias against transgender individuals, but could not afford to put in a third rest room just for transgender patrons.

The cost of fighting the discrimination case could be high.

Anderson said he has launched a legal defense fund to fight the charges.