Friday, July 18, 2008
Dallas gay bar to ban drag queens on “Trashy Tuesday”
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David Moore, co-owner of the Crews Inn, claims he can legally keep transgender people out of his gay bar on Fitzhugh Avenue in Dallas if their appearances don’t match their photo IDs.
Fueled by cheap drink prices and nearly naked, toned men dancing for tips, Tuesday night bar-hopping on Fitzhugh Avenue is becoming a staple in the Dallas LGBT community. So much so that locals have even given the event a nickname — “Trashy Tuesday.”
But Crews Inn co-owner David Moore says he plans to remove the “T” — for transgender, that is — from the clientele at his Fitzhugh Avenue bar on Tuesday nights.
“Drag queens act like they are divas and think they can’t do no wrong,” Moore said. “They have stolen money straight off the bar, hassled costumers for drinks and locked themselves in the bathroom with a bunch of guys. And with Tuesday being our busiest night, there is just no way for me to keep the draq queens under control then. I don’t want draq queens in here that are going to misbehave.”
That’s why starting Tuesday, July 15 Moore and his employees began asking transgender women and draq queens to leave. Local drag performers Ivana Tramp and Celeste Williams — who now goes by Emelisa Nunez — said they and a friend were told to go when a bartender, and former draq queen himself, came over and said, “I’m sorry, but the owner is in one of his moods, and he doesn’t want this.”
“I was like, ‘What do you mean? What are you saying?’” Tramp said. “And he goes, ‘David says he doesn’t want this’ — making a hand gesture at us — ‘in this bar, trannies, drag queens or girls.”
At first, Tramp and Nunez said, they were embarrassed.
“It’s kind of like I’m a positive role model in the community,” Tramp said. “It wasn’t like I was there hammered or begging people to buy me a drink. I felt like it was very embarrassing and degrading.”
But then they got angry.
“I’ve never been barred from anywhere, and that not only upset me, but it pissed me off really bad,” Nunez said.
The group left the bar without causing a scene, but they are still confused as to why they were thrown out since they personally were not misbehaving.
“How do I separate one draq queen that is being bad from others?” Moore said. “We don’t have the time on Tuesday nights with all the people in here to sit there and tell them apart from one another. If a drag queen misbehaves one week and then the next comes back in a different outfit I wouldn’t be able to recognize them. That’s why I don’t want any of them in here on Tuesdays.”
Zippers is a block down from Crews Inn, and Zippers manager John Miles says he has never seen problems with the transgender community.
“I have not noticed any difference in the behavior of drag queens from our other customers,” he said. “They behave themselves very well and do not cause problems. They will always be welcomed at Zippers.”
Nunez and Tramp are consulting attorneys about the legality of the ban. They plan to take legal action if they can.
“I’m not sure if it is legal or not, but if they are acting stupid I have that right under TABC [Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission],” Moore said. “As a bar owner, we have the right to refuse service to anyone.”
Miles said he’s not so sure.
“It is discrimination, but legally they do have the right to refuse service,” Miles said. “But by saying draq queens or transgender or whatever that opens up a whole other can of worms that a lawyer should look at.”
Crews Inn owner David Moore kisses an employee of his bar, Stormy, at a charity benefit.
Dallas has an anti-discrimination ordinance that bans discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations. Both sexual orientation and gender identity are covered by the ordinance, which carries a maximum fine of $500 per violation.
Rob Wiley, one local attorney who handles discrimination cases, said discrimination based on gender is also prohibited under federal and state law.
When Moore was made aware of the city’s ordinance, he said both the Dallas Police Department and TABC would be on his side because costumers’ appearance must match their picture ID.
“We bend the rules a lot of times for draq queens,” Moore said. “We shouldn’t, but we do. Well now we just aren’t doing that anymore on Tuesday nights.”
Michael Doughman, executive director of the Dallas Tavern Guild, said as long as Moore is keeping them out because of behavior issues, “he has every right to run his business the way he wants to.” Crew’s Inn is a member of the Tavern Guild, a local association of gay bars.
“I’ve never know David to be prejudiced toward any group of people, so I can’t imagine that it is just because they are guys in drag,” Doughman said.
Moore said he has nothing against drag, just the alleged behavior.
“If I did, several of my employees would not be working here because they are draq queens, too,” he said.
Sierra Nicole Standridge, who performs as Sierra Nicole Andrews, was kicked out of Crews Inn three years ago, said she isn’t buying Moore’s explanation.
“His excuse for kicking me out was that he thought I was someone who apparently threw a bottle at an employee, but I would never ever. That is not my style. You know there are a few bad apples out there, but not all of us are bad, and he should not treat us that way.”
Three years ago, Standridge didn’t end up doing anything about being kicked out for being a transgender woman. But this time is different.
“It’s sad to me, because this is not Stonewall or the ’70s anymore. It’s sad that he is trying to exile transgender people out of his club. Well, like I told Ivana, if I have to picket, I will. We are going to exile him out of the gay community.”
Standridge, Tramp and Nunez are planning a protest of Crew’s Inn on Tuesday night, July 22.
“I don’t want anyone to break any laws or anything like that,” Tramp said. “We just want those supporting us to show up at 10 p.m. so that David will know how big a part of the community we are. And so he’ll know that by them shunning us, he faces all of us and our supporters shunning him too.”
They think it could make a big difference.
“We don’t need our own kind turning against each other saying you can’t come in here because you are transgender,” Standridge said. “It makes us feel like a circus freak, like we don’t fit in, and that makes me so sad.”
The group is expecting 50 to 100 performers and fans to show up.
“They ain’t going to get in. I can tell you that right now. Bring them on,” Moore said. “It makes them look that much more immature to claim this is discrimination and plan this. They brought this on themselves by behaving the way they do.”
Moore said he’s hoping for a less dramatic conclusion.
“I’m willing to work with them,” he said. “If they would sit down and say they are going to keep each other accountable internally in their community, then there would be no reason for keeping them out on Tuesdays,” he said.
Pegasus News content partner - Dallas Voice
The community newspaper for gay & lesbian Dallas.
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- Protests against Dallas’ Crews Inn still dragging on (Aug. 15, 2008)
- Dallas’ Crews Inn drag queen ban may be scrapped (July 25, 2008)
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Comments
Pavel Lishin Verified
A protest against a gay bar by a bunch of angry drag queens.
I have got to see this.
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
JW Richard Verified
You have GOT to be kidding me! Any gay bar that evicts transgender people just because they're transgender needs to have more than a few people protesting that bar.
What statement is he really hoping to make (besides gaining free advertisement in the Dallas Voice with this preposterous weekly event theme)?
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
jamesn Anonymous
This reads like something from the gay version of The Onion.
It would appear that Mr Moore believes that sexual and gender discrimination are perfectly acceptable as long as it's not his sexual and/or gender expression that's being discriminated against. In truth, Mr Moore is no better than any other gay hating wing-nut.
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
John McClelland Verified
Usually the best way to take care of that problem is not by protest but by not patronizing the bar. Anyone and everyone should just stop going. Then Crews would either be forced to change its mind, or be forced to close due to lost business.
As a private business and private property, I would assume the owner can allow or disallow anyone he chooses, but it may not be a wise business decision. Discriminating against an entire set of people just because a handful of them have no respect for themselves or others, is not the way to handle things.
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Rick Yost Verified
As a bar owner myself, I can't rush to judge this bar owner too quickly. From his remarks it seems the majority of his violence and safety issues were apparently being caused by these individuals. He noted their attitudes were to blame. And I have to imagine that a transgender would no doubt have an attitude.
I'll admit I am ignorant of all the social nuances involved here, but if removing one 'group' of like-minded individuals with bad attitudes would make it safer and more pleasant for the rest of my patrons, I'd make an attempt to do so as soon as possible.
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Scott Doyle Verified
Why do you hate the gays, Rick?
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Rick Yost Verified
Yeah, I knew that was coming- I even pegged who the first poster would be.
I don't hate anyone Doyle.
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Scott Doyle Verified
Nothing but love, Yost!
Personally agree with you, btw, but I don't own anything open to the public so I can't really speak from that perspective.
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Mike Orren Staff
I just hope they don't smoke!
;-)
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
jcvance22 Anonymous
Rick...you obviously have no experience with the nuances of running a successful gay bar.
Kicking out the trannies in a Texas gay bar is like telling a certain race they have to have 3 forms of ID at a "straight" bar...surest way to kill your business. They tried the same thing at Oil Can Harry's in Austin and it killed their business until a new owner lifted the ban.
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Mike Orren Staff
Actually, not as good as the original, but I couldn't find a version that wouldn't autoplay:
http://www.rathergood.com/gaybar/
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Tracy Yost Verified
They just need to open their own bars. Kinda like non-smokers.
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Pavel Lishin Verified
RickYost: "I even pegged who the first poster would be. "
That's funny on three levels.
jcvance: "They tried the same thing at Oil Can Harry's in Austin and it killed their business until a new owner lifted the ban. "
They banned non-whites? Or trannies? Come to think of it, I don't remember seeing either in there.
Miko: Shame on you for not embedding the actual video.
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Mike Orren Staff
Miko: Shame on you for not embedding the actual video.
Couldn't. It was autoplay.
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Rick Yost Verified
Pavel- The 'first poster' I referred to, was the first poster to respond to my post. I knew someone would say I hated gays, and I figured Scott would be the first- just 'cause he likes to stir up sh*t.
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Jason Rice Verified
Yep - I was traveling down the thread and said to myself "Well Rick, you stepped into Scott's range finder there... and there he is"
You have to admit, it's more that a tad funny to think that one of the most ostracized groups in history actually has a scapegoat subset.
But then again, even we have Scott, right?
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
MichaelE Anonymous
The bar owner says that he asks people to leave that there picture ID dosnt match there appearance. BUT, when my friends and I were asked to leave there was no one checking ID's at the door and 2 of my friends do look like there ID since they live there lives as a woman. So what is the excuse now? I think it is a double standard when you want to keep trouble out when you run your business by banning and fireing your dancers when they refuse to your sexual advances.
The FACT is there was an inccident with ONE person afew months ago that started this. She is well known in Dallas and also well known to not be able to handle her liquor. Have your bartenders stop serving this person and ban that person. With a community that wants equal rights it is sad that we are dividing ourselves and casting such hate upon others in our same community.
Sad thing is, when someone dies, is in the hospital etc the first person Crews Inn has called is the drag queens of dallas to hold fundraisers.
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
aduxxx Anonymous
Wow. So it's alright to ban and ask an entire "group" of people to leave your establishment just because some members of a "group" have bad attitudes? C5an you picture the uproar this would cause if it were about anything but gender preference? i.e.
"Hey, you're Asian, and some Asians can't hold their liquor and misbehave, so I'm going to ban all Asians from this bar!"
I seriously thought Dallas was beyond that kind of thing. Guess I was wrong. Just another reason I almost regret moving here :(
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
momzilla Anonymous
It sounds to me like this owner needs to start checking ID at the door, and having a ban list for the specific individuals who have been acting up. Once you get rid of the ringleaders, typically their rowdy friends will quit attending as well.
No matter how they're dressed, their ID won't change.
Is this one of the bars with the hoochie dancers (or whatever the male equivalent is) or typically a sedate pub type atmosphere? In the latter case, I can see the owner's dilemma.
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
aduxxx Anonymous
Momzilla, you have a great point here! I spent my residential field studies in a TINY town in Wales. Even though it was really rural and a small community, there were three pubs (hello, it was Wales!). Each pub had a "Sh*te List" of INDIVIDUALS that were banned for totally unacceptable behavior (different at each pub, mind) There is no need to generalize and ban every transgender or transsexual, because some of them can't play nice in a bar. I opt for the Welsh solution; ban individuals, not a whole group.
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
momzilla Anonymous
The thing is that he does have a point re photo ID matching appearance. I know more than one low paid service worker who has gotten into big trouble relative to this, e.g. selling beer at Walmart to someone with a false id or serving drinks to an minor using someone else's id.
Even that rule can present a problem, though. For example my daughter rarely matches her photo ID. Her hair color changes every few weeks, and she wears contact lenses so may be green eyed one day and blue eyed the next.
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
aduxxx Anonymous
Sure, I've had bartenders and grocery folk alike do a double-take on my ID, because of change in hair length and color. Shoot, my Dutch passport still lists my height as being 10 cm. shorter than I am (and the border control folks always ask about that; for the record, it was something that was never changed on a teenaged to adult passport change).
But all of those things are technicalities, really. In the end, no matter how tall I am, or what color lenses your daughter wears, or what kind of make-up a transsexual is wearing; if you frequent a bar frequently enough, the staff knows who you are.
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
jtmbls Anonymous
Ooo...and Celeste has been around for a while...One queen I would NOT want to mess with! :-)
And Pavel - I knew you'd be the first to post here! :-b
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
jtmbls Anonymous
Speaking of Drag...Jason and Pavel, will you be changing your pics back anytime soon? No offence Gouldins!!
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Scott Doyle Verified
aduxxx, you thought Dallas was beyond stereotyping? Did you move here yesterday?
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Pavel Lishin Verified
My photo ID doesn't look much like me, except for the smirk. Losing a foot of hair and growing a mohawk means that bouncers and liquor dispensers always do a double take and crack a joke.
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Jason Rice Verified
But I want to be younger and thinner.
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Mark-Brian Sonna Verified
I wonder how they'll handle Halloween?
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
jtmbls Anonymous
OMG!! Haw! Yeah, the mowhawk is way cooler.
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Ashley Lyell Verified
Especially when it's pink.
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
jtmbls Anonymous
Awww! Pink??
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
aduxxx Anonymous
Scott, Yes, practically yesterday (year and a half ago) It doesn't help that I'm from Amsterdam either. Not saying we don't stereotype there, but I suppose the gay community is a little less bitchy; there's still drama, but I've never heard of a bar owner out diva-ing a drag queen ;)
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Rick Yost Verified
aduxxx- (completely off topic)
Wow, you moved to the 'liberal hot spot of America'-Dallas, Texas...from Amsterdam? Talk about culture shock! :-)
For years it's been my dream to retire to Amsterdam and live in a house boat on the canals.
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
aduxxx Anonymous
I get that response a lot ;) LOL. Yeah, I met an American back home and we moved to Seattle together (which was like a Diet Coke version of the US for me, although I was still in culture shock). I had no idea what I was getting into when I moved to Dallas. (!!) I take a 2 week sanity trip to Amsterdam every year and I know I won't be living in Dallas for the rest of my life; that's for sure! :)
11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
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