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 arent many details on the citations, including what these bars were cited for specifically, at least one of the two gay bars owners believes theyve 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 bars 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 isnt what happened the night of his bars 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.