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Loading ...Gay bar has new ID rule for cross-dressers
09.22.2009 5:03pm EDT
(Elk Grove Village, Ill.) A gay bar in the Chicago suburb of Elk Grove Village says cross-dressers who wish to drink there will now have to show a valid photo ID that matches the gender they are dressed as.
Manager Peter Lansdorf says Hunters Nightclub reluctantly imposed its new ID requirement because cross-dressing prostitutes were advertising on Craigslist and mentioning his tavern as a place they hung out.Lansdorf concedes that the new rule could cut into the club’s substantial transvestite clientele, but says prostitution of any form could cost him his liquor license.
Spokesman Ed Yohnka of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois says the new ID requirement may possibly be a violation of the Illinois Human Rights Act.
Wow, Rob, I can see why you wouldn’t have a problem with this! It’s just like the straight, cis-gendered person who told me the other day that he has no problem with how marriage works in the U.S. because it’s never bothered him that he can’t marry a man. He wants to marry a woman!
You know, I guess it’s even not an issue if I bar ejects gay looking men or dykey women. They could just act straight while they went to the bar, after all. “Their identity is their identity,” really, and not how they act or display themselves in public.
In other notes, for those who say that it’s a little reasonable because transvestites were using the bar for prostitution, I’m sure that gay people have used many bars for the same purpose. And I know that women have done it. Perhaps we should ban them from gay bars, too?
Well said, DaveW: the only thing accomplished by criminalizing sex workers is make it harder for people doing that work to build relationships in their communities, protect themselves, and even pay taxes.
Its a matter of a few bad apples ruining the fun. I can see both sides.The bar owner is reacting to protect whats his.
Because the police wont assist by dealing with the illegal activity.
While many of my friends are not comfortable without being preaty. Why dont the “regulers” spam the fools posting on craiglist? If they were constantly flagged with the bar refrence they would STOP! Then there would not be a need to alter the rules.So both sides could get what there after!!!
this has gone on for years i was one of the top impersonators in the past and a lot of boston bars would not let us in after a show even with our valid mens i.d.s some bars would also not let any women in at all. we boycotted and got a few bars to close for their practices.
Its discriminatory. He should be ashamed of himself.
I don’t have a problem with this at all. You can come pull off your wig at the door and put it back on. I also agree that Muslim women should’nt be able to wear the Burkas in their Drivers Licenses. Your Identity is your identity not some crazy drag you threw on for the night to go have fun…
It’s really no biggie…
Of course this is horrible but where is the true outrage: prostitution being illegal is discrimination also!
until we get over the taboo of sex in our society we will continue to suffer from bad policies like this. What is an owner to do if he risks losing his license? Police the bar, yes…but how do you monitor every conversation?
Why is he liable anyway? Are bar owners supposed to ask every departing couple “any money exchanging hands here?” “Hey, you look like you’re about to go down on him in the car..make sure its for FREE”
Ridiculous. stop the stupid ban on selling sex. Stop the taboo of sex. Stop telling kids they’ll grow hair on their palms or all pornography makes you gay (I’m still laughing at that one).
Sex workers need support..medical care, advice, advocacy and yes they need a place to ply their trade.
I’ve said this about cruising too. If you make it legal in certain places you won’t see rest stops being shut down to the detriment of all travelers.
It is in fact legal, I guess, but the cops don’t seem to agree….as long as you take the action into private, there is nothing wrong with cruising. (I had that exact conversation with a cop who was harassing me and he walked away, saying he agree, he has no grounds on which to give me a hard time).
Anyway, its sex and it is the fault of the christians. The things they do to our society are so widespread I can’t figure out why anyone gives them money and can live with themselves.
@Chris Sullivan: I agree that that could useful information, but what that is still saying is kind of like, “I’m gonna be a bigot until you get me a prostitution detector.” It’s an empty promise. You can’t look at someone and know they’re a sex worker. They could ban specific people as they find them, but instead the owner has decided to ban not only transvestites, but any trans folk who aren’t lucky enough to be able to change their IDs.
Quite conveniently, this version of the story leaves out the fact that the owner states he was more than willing to discuss other options that would protect his business but still be inclusive.
This would be as bad as barring black patrons who wear baggy clothing because of fighting. Oh wait, gay bars have done that too…
Great, this is a first, doesn’t sound like we’re making much progress as a community. I would think that the owner and management could have policed their own bar a little better without resorting to this. Obviously, law abiding gender variant people without a drivers license will be shut out. How sad.
Trans folks have few options for bars when they are first coming out. Many turn to gay or lesbian spots because of the inclusivity and welcoming attitude.
As for the pick up nature of things, that’s what many bars like this represent. Only now, instead of 97% being of the non-profit nature, it will be 100%, right? Does buying a girl a free drink count?
I say that every trans person or drag queen within 50 miles should show up on Friday or Saturday with back pack in tow. Now law against changing your clothes in the bathroom!
The article at another site states that it needs to be a government ID. Rots of Ruck getting the DMV to give you the ID you now need to get into that bar.
It is a violation of the law in my state and probably in Ill. as well. Using the logic that since some crossdressers happen to be prostitutes then all of them are is the same as saying that a black kid robbed a liquor store then all black kids rob liquor stores. Crazy rule to say the least. WTF is a gay bar with out drag queens?