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Behind the Aegis

(53,833 posts)
Fri Mar 1, 2019, 05:41 AM Mar 2019

Ahead of Mardi Gras, New Orleans Gay Bars Claim They're Being Unfairly Targeted by the Law

Last week saw at least two popular New Orleans gay bars, including The Phoenix and Rawhide, cited by the state-run Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (ATC). While there aren’t many details on the citations, including what these bars were cited for specifically, at least one of the two gay bars‘ owners believes they’ve been unfairly targeted.

“On Thursday afternoon, ATC cited us that we were in violation of some state laws. The citations were not unlike what we have seen them recently give other gay bars. We plan on attending our hearing and stating our case,” says Clint Taylor, owner of The Phoenix, in a post on the bar’s Facebook page.

In his statement, Taylor also made clear that the incident was not a “raid,” and that no patrons of the bar were arrested. He stresses that unlike riots and raids of years prior, and unlike the incident at Upstairs Lounge and the attack on Pulse nightclub — where our queer brethren were assaulted, humiliated and in some cases lost their lives — this isn’t what happened the night of his bar’s ATC citation.

“But the fight is the same,” Taylor says. “An attack on one of us is an attack on all us. We hope you stand with us.”

more...

Wouldn't surprise me at all. These aren't "mainstream" gay bars; they cater to the bear and leather communities. One was by my home in NOLA, a few steps away; fun place.

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Ahead of Mardi Gras, New Orleans Gay Bars Claim They're Being Unfairly Targeted by the Law (Original Post) Behind the Aegis Mar 2019 OP
you are correct that those are the leather headquarters rampartc Mar 2019 #1
Hmmmm.... JustFiveMoreMinutes Mar 2019 #2

rampartc

(5,265 posts)
1. you are correct that those are the leather headquarters
Fri Mar 1, 2019, 08:05 AM
Mar 2019

but it is not uncommon for the police to hold raids prior to mardi gras and events like a superbowl. targetting underage drinking is the usual excuse.

the bars are still open, 24/7 in the case of phoenix.

JustFiveMoreMinutes

(2,133 posts)
2. Hmmmm....
Sat Mar 2, 2019, 02:55 AM
Mar 2019

Upstairs Phoenix... Backroom Rawhide...

Kind of easy to insert yourself into the dark havens of drunken debauchery! <wink>

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