Should gay bars ban straight people in an effort to gain gay rights? Bar owner Geno Zaharakis sat one busy evening at the window of his gay nightclub, watching as groups of straight women celebrating bachelorette parties made their way along a strip of bars in Chicago’s gay-friendly “Boystown” neighborhood. That’s when he made a decision now posted for all to see, no Bachelorette parties. Though the small sign has been there for years, it’s suddenly making a big statement amid the national debate over gay marriage. While most gay bars continue to welcome the raucous brides to be, Zaharakis’s bar Cocktail is fighting for what he sees as a fundamental right, and his patrons — along with some peeved bachelorettes — are taking notice.
Gay bars are popular with bachelorettes, both for the over-the-top drag shows that some offer and for the ability to let loose in a place where women are unlikely to be groped or ogled. Some bars welcome the women and their free spending, even advertising weekend shows. Zaharakis, though, instructs his bouncers to turn away groups of women sporting beads, boas, tiaras and phallic plastic necklaces. His customers say they like knowing they’re not going to encounter such displays.
“It is throwing it in our face that they can get married and we can’t,” said Dion Contreras, a 29-year-old Chicago litigation manager, while having a drink at Cocktail with friends. “I just think they’re ignorant to our situation. I want women to think twice about this issue.”
When Zaharakis posted the sign in 2004, it got a little local attention, but it was mostly the surprised bachelorettes turned away at the door who took note. The November passage of California’s gay marriage ban Proposition 8, though, helped sparked chatter about the ban on Internet blogs, which in turn attracted more media attention and debate.
The California Supreme Court upheld the state ban last month. Six states have legalized gay marriage. Some of the biggest proponents of gay marriage aren’t on board with Zaharakis’ approach. Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry, said while he agrees with Zaharakis’ stand on marriage equality, he would express it differently.
“I’d rather invite people in,” Wolfson said. “Celebrate their happiness and ask them to take a stand for us by helping change the law.”
In Washington D.C., when bachelorette partygoers enter the gay bar Town Danceboutique they’re asked to sign a petition in support of gay marriage. Owner Ed Bailey sends the petitions to the customer’s representative in Congress. Bailey says in the year he’s had his petition policy, no one has refused to sign.
Down the street from Chicago’s Cocktail, another gay nightclub, Circuit, welcomes bachelorettes. Owner Jeff Binninger doesn’t think the women’s antics are meant to hurt anyone. Where Zaharakis took offense, Binninger saw a market niche and started producing the male revue “Sinzation” on Saturday nights, advertised specifically to bachelorette parties. But Zaharakis is standing firm. At Cocktail, where about once a month staff turn away bachelorettes, the sign will stay. And for those who ask about it, he’s ready with a written statement: “Until same-sex marriage is legal everywhere and same-sex couples are allowed the rights as every heterosexual couple worldwide, we simply do not think it’s fair or just for a female bride-to-be to celebrate her upcoming nuptials here at Cocktail.”
Not so sure I agree with the way Zaharakis is doing this. It seems a little naive to think that discriminating against those straight woman who most likely support gays rights to have any effect on gay rights. Woman turned away at the door are more likey in my opinion to resent being turned away. Zaharakis seems to think that turning them away will make them run staright to their congressmen and demand gay marrige so they can hang out in his bar. Sounds like someone might be a bit delusional if you ask me.
Studies show clearly that people tend to change their onions on gay rights the more they are exposed to gay people and gay culture. Harvey Milk famously took this same line of thinking and called out to the world to come out. And do you know what, it worked! Locking straight females out of gay bars will never change hearts and minds in this way. Well it may, but not in the direction we need. I understand Zaharakis motives, but this idea is misguided at best, and it’s doing more harm than good.
Filed under: Civil Rights, News by Tristin
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