Independent contractors are free of the rigid rules and politics of the workplace faced by employees.  You have a written agreement as to what each party brings to the table and nothing more.  

The comment below about "at will employment," it is not correct. I can't hire a male employee and then later tell him, I decided I only want women on the job.  I can just fire you without cause, but if I fired all the men, the lawyers would be fighting for your case.

Taken from an article about Hooters: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act lets companies discriminate on the basis of "religion, sex, or national origin in those instances where religion, sex, or national origin is a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the particular business or enterprise." The courts agreed with Hooters twice.

The new company can state that being female is BFOQ; that clearly is not true; however, he isn't an employee, so he is SOL.