Why Does D.C.’s First Lesbian Bar Have a Problem With Marines?
Semper Guy: Phase 1 aims to take the barracks out of Barracks Row
When Phase 1 opened up in Capitol Hill in 1970, it chose an unlikely spot for the District's first lesbian bar: a windowless joint half a block from the historic Marine Corps barracks at 8th and I Streets SE. Now the "nation's oldest lesbian bar," Phase 1's longevity in Marine territory may be attributed to its peculiar door policy: No unaccompanied men are allowed to enter the bar without a female escort.
Bar management is tight-lipped on the unwritten rule, not returning the Sexist's requests for comment. Perhaps that's because the policy isn't exactly consistent with the D.C. Human Rights Act's prohibition of sex discrimination in public accommodations.
Leave it to a patron to out the policy. Last year, Meaghan O'Malley wrote in a blog post on local Web site the New Gay: "The policy is not 'no men allowed' or 'men pay more' or 'men will be heckled relentlessly if they dare to come in,'" O'Malley wrote. "The policy is, 'if you look like an asshole, or a Marine from down the street, or insist that it is your God-given right to come into a lesbian bar, or screech about how it's discrimination,' you probably won't get in."
George Phelps had been stationed at 8th and I for three weeks in 1995 when he finally received a night off. He and a friend decided to celebrate with a beer, so they walked across the street to the nearest bar: Phase 1. When they reached the door, a bouncer informed Phelps that the bar was ladies-only—and that the Marine buddies were not welcome. Phelps, who underwent an extensive background check in order to obtain a security clearance that allowed him to "carry a firearm on the White House lawn," found it ironic that he and his fellow Marines wouldn't be trusted to behave themselves in a gay bar. "Honestly, I just really needed a drink," says Phelps. "I'm open-minded. They're not going to recruit me, and I'm not going to try to hit on a woman who's gay. A beer's a beer."
Why is Phase 1 operating in fear of a full-on Marine assault? History, maybe: A once-hostile relationship between patrons and Marines has grown increasingly benign over the bar's 38 years on the block. In 1980, bar owner Pat Sullivan told the Washington Post that a Marine from the barracks "thew a tear-gas bomb" into the bar. In 1989, the paper reported on Phase 1's installation of a "wooden barrier" to protect against airborne "bottles and rocks." In 2006, Phase 1 manager Sarah Brasher told Washington City Paper, "We don't have any violence at all."
Now, Phase 1 can post videos of girl-on-girl Jello wrestling on its Web site without incident. Despite bunking within stumbling distance to a bar full of lesbians, men at 8th and I attest that they've largely kept to harassing more traditional Marine targets: straight women and gay men.
"I need to talk to you like a guy," explains Thom Niland, who was also stationed at the 8th and I barracks in the mid-'90s. "On 8th Street in Southeast? The only thing on my radar—and I can say the same for just about every other Marine there—was trying to hook up with girls and get laid," he says. "I had no idea this place existed, and I can probably say that 95 percent of the Marines there don't know about it. Frankly, why would we go there?"
The obvious answer—that Marines like to fuck with everybody—hasn't inspired enough 8th and I residents to cause a regular ruckus. Bryan Dallas, who was stationed at the barracks from 1990-94, can only "vaguely recall a lesbian bar" near the barracks—and he says that friction between lesbians and Marines was largely relegated to the world of fantasy. "As young, goofy fools, you'd always hope you'd see some girls making out on the street. That's about it," he says. "There might have been some goofballs thinking they were so macho that they could pick up a lesbian or something, but no one I knew in my four years there."
The barracks' other gay neighbor, cowboy-themed bar Remington's, hasn't hurt for Marine attention. Dallas recalls the bar vividly: "It was a gentlemen's club—gentlemen only, if you know what I mean," says Dallas. "It had a dark window out front. I remember a cowboy hat. Guys would be in the chaps. Buck rider. Cowboys," he says. After an incident with the bar—Dallas heard that a fellow Marine launched a trash can through that window—Dallas endured a barracks-wide lecture informing Marines not to be seen near the bar. Similar prohibitions have been repeated to barracks residents since the 1980 opening of the bar, then known as Equus, when a mob of Marines rushed the building and assaulted patrons and staff. Steve Sweigart, who lived in the barracks at the time of Equus' debut, explains that Marine harassment of gays generally swings one way: "I'd say the big difference between Equus and any lesbian bar would be that the one has male patrons and the other female," he says.
Now, the Marines at 8th and I are kept out of Phase 1 by a higher authority than the bar's managers: Commanding officers issue standing orders against patronizing certain local bars. One recent veteran of the barracks recalls being explicitly told not to enter several local establishments: Georgetown's Rhino Bar and Capitol Hill bars the Hawk 'N Dove, Remington's, and Phase 1. (An 8th and I rep says there are no "standing orders," but that commanding officers "orient and advise" Marines.)
For a time, the Hawk 'N Dove enforced its own "unaccompanied Marine" policy, requiring them to arrive either in uniform or with a date. Though Hawk 'N Dove didn't have the same "lesbian safety" rationale for its Marine exclusion, it did have one good reason to try to keep Marines out—it's a bar that Marines actually want to go to. The policy wilted last year after a highly publicized boycott by friends and family of servicemen. Remington's owner Steven Smith, who bought the bar in 1985, says he also retains no anti-Marine door policies. "We've had our instances with the Marines, but you let it go and you move on," he says. "We can't take the whole organization and blame it for the mistakes of a few. That's not right."
Even without a prohibition on a specific bar, it's in the Marine's best interest to keep his drinking hole heterosexual. "It just doesn't look good," says one Marine. "You know the policy on that."
Phase 1's policy does impact one group of males that actually wants to go to Phase 1—gay men. O'Malley's posting of the bar's rule ignited a rash of criticism from gay readers, upset that the rule was meant to keep out any gay person "without a vagina." Zack Rosen, one of the creators of the New Gay, explains his readership's position on the rule: "There were some men who kind of felt discriminated against," he says. "They were offended that they'd need an escort to get into Phase 1 when it was clear they were an ally." As with the Marines, gay men's objections to the Phase 1 rule are rarely presented in person. "[Gay men] have Cobalt, and J.R.'s, and Nellie's, and 20 other gay bars," says Rosen. "I can't imagine some guy sitting at home alone in his polo and his khakis, crying because he can't get into Phase 1 tonight."
Photo by Darrow Montgomery.
2:23 pm
I love a good Fist Lesbian bar.
2:27 pm
Hah. Wow, nice one Sexist.
5:37 pm
In reading this more closely, and just for public record, I did not "out" the Phase 1 policy. The men complaining about the policy on TNG were the first to bring it to light (in the blogosphere), and I defended it as a long time patron and advocate to women/transfolk in need of safe space. Also, anyone who attempts to walk into Phase 1 will see the policy in print directly in front of them.
9:52 pm
Doing your best to make every bar and club in DC hetero-wonderland I see. Thanks! Having spent most of my college years (as a gay man) hanging out with lesbians and going to lesbian clubs accompanied, I get it, and you apparently don't.
1. Women don't get a lot of women only spaces, and lesbians even less so. It throws off the vibe and the dynamic having too many men. That and drunk, young straight men can be both obnoxious and downright dangerous.
2 Lots of places aren't too keen on young, drunk straight men. For a long time bars in Stockholm didn't admit men until they hit 22-27 because they were too much of a risk.
2:30 am
First if all "Pat Sullivan" has never owned the Phase. The Phase has been owned from day 1 by Allen Carrol and Chris Jansen. Also anyone who has actually been to the Phase knows that as long as you are respectful and a decent human being you will feel more welcome in that establishment than any other, whether you are gay, straight, lesbian, trans, etc. Oh, and also if you were wondering, this is the only true lesbian space, so I hope you had fun writing this "hard hitting" article.
8:23 am
You realize Women can be Marines too.... The Sexist you say? Right.....
9:15 am
This is just ridiculous; the Phase is one of the very few 'safe' spaces that lesbian women have left where they can be free from the constant harrasssment of straight men.
Just last week some stupid person brought in some of their male 'friends' who proceeded to ogle and grab at any femme looking woman they could before being asked to leave the bar! So sorry if these men feel 'discriminated against', there are other countless venues for you to ogle and grab freely, thank you!
9:15 am
You chose to interview a handful of Marines and *one* lesbian about the male (NOT Marine) presence in a lesbian bar. That literally makes no sense. If you'd ever been inside Phase 1 on a Friday or Saturday you would know that this is a real issue. And if you think lesbians aren't at risk I would implore you to read about the California lesbian who was raped by 4 men just because she was gay.
Phase 1 is not only "The nations oldest lesbian bars"-- one of the few details you go right in your article, it is also one of TWO lesbian bars in the entire city. Way to pick on the most marginalized part of the DC bar scene.
10:44 am
jesus you guys are way over the top. I understand why gay (perhaps, especially lesbian) people feel the need for their own space. A long history of persecution has bred fear into portions of the various gay communities. However, the policy is inherently discriminatory. Amanda is not bringing to an end the lesbian community (just look at her hair cut!!!). She is just pointing that there exists a double standard. No bar in DC could get away with denying gay men or women, but this bar is denying straight men (I would guess not women). I think a response posting (article?) would be helpful in which either the bars owners, and/or longtime patrons comment on the policy. I believe this would be specifically enlightening in regards to what provided the impetus for the policy. (the smoke grenade thing I imagine was especially traumatizing, but likely not the only instance).
11:51 am
I agree with mdesus. Amanda is merely pointing out some rules and history, shes certainly not trying to ruffle some lesbian feathers. You should be happy shes bringing attention to gay/lesbians issues in this city! Relax ladies.
Thanks Amanda
12:33 pm
As a dyke and occasional phase patron, I thought this article was totally fair. What's all the fuss about?
12:34 pm
Honestly, I've been to the Phase many, many times and have never had a problem with the door policy. It makes sense, you want to have a safe space. It really is meant to keep people away that probably don't really want to be there in the first place. I've always felt they were welcoming to people across the LGBTQ spectrum and to straight allies as well.
4:18 pm
Listen. Safe places are important to queers. We do not have many open and comfortable places for us to hang out in and if Phase 1 wants to protect me then Thank you Phase 1. Tell the men to bring a Woman escort and they are more than welcomed in my safe bar. Nuff Said.
I think City Paper made Phase 1 look bad and that is NOT COOL. Why not talk about the continued dis-crimation taking place all over Dc with trans people. Now this is a fact and something I would read....
5:40 pm
Safe place or not if violates the law. It levies an unfair requirement simply because one looks or is male. It is wrong, and based on that they either should change their policy, or be fined and perhaps put out of business by the city. The quote injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere is real, and must be applied even when it's inconvenient. To discriminate against men is wrong. Some men have abused some women, but all men are not a threat to all women. If that were the case then all men should be confined. Now Phase can become a private members only club/or religious creedal organization, and then they would akin to the Roman Catholic Church or the KKK and no longer be providing public accommodation. If that's the road they choose then legally they have no issue. I plan to ask the Council look into this matter. This is unacceptable, and they deserve to look bad, because this is bad. What’s next, a hair salon where all blondes must be escorted. It’s actually absurd. Any past history of violence against women and/or lesbians at the hands of some men does not justify sexual profiling. Just as the 9/11 Hijackers being middle eastern didn’t justify racial profiling all people of middle eastern ethnicity. Sexual based discrimination is wrong. It is that simple.
5:49 pm
This article was poorly researched and the people that were interviewed aren’t even relevant to the lesbian scene, the bar or even the area. The $5 cover is also used as a security measure... which works as a deterrent distinguishing people who actually would like to go into the bar from people who are just coming to "make fun" or cause a scene.
The problem isn’t marines at all... never the less marines that served 14 years ago! we have PLENTY of female marines that are regulars and also male marines that come in dance, have a good time and are welcomed back again. Our problem is the drunken marines walking back from pizza Bolis or 711 that want to run into the bar and scream "DYYYYYYYYKKKKKE" and mock patrons.
Phase One is not a violent bar but contrary to Sarah Brasher's adamant comment that there is NEVER violence, i have been witness on more than one occasion to a group of marines following a transsexual or a couple out of phase making rude comments and threatening physical violence.
Please get the facts straight... I'm sure if people could learn how to stop being ignorant, homophobic and rude then lesbians wouldn’t feel so staunchly protective of their ONLY bar in the city.
6:06 pm
As a long time patron of the phase I can say that I have seen several Marines, gay and strait in the Phase. There has never been a problem with mature open minded people coming into the bar no matter what there affilation. The problems arise when drunk young men are walking to and from the 7-11 and feel that it is within their rights to come to the door of the bar and yell "Dykes" and other clever things. Nobody at the bar is a "man hater". Contrary to Amanda Hess's world class research, Allen Carroll, the owner is a male and is always well recieved by patrons. It is such as shame the City Paper feels the need to write an article because 14 years ago George Phelps was unable to get a beer. To quote George Phelps, "a beer's a beer". I am sure he didn't have a problem find one at any of the other 10,000 bars in D.C. (10,000 may not be the actual figure... as I am not an accredited reporter)
6:13 pm
Why do the gays have to let Marines in our bars while openly gay folks can't be in the Marines? And I bet these are the same [male] Marines who never have to pay speeding tickets, get discounts on everything, everywhere they go, and whose wives suffer from disproportionate rates of domestic abuse, but who never have to face charges about any of it. Well, I'm sorry you can't take your I'm so special party to the gay women's bar. I guess this isn't exactly the type of special treatment you're used to. You must feel so discriminated against.
6:29 pm
How did you get the comments from all the former Marines, an alumni website?
6:48 pm
OK, so this is an article about how a lesbain bar has an informal "policy" about not letting in Marines? And it also states that the Marines Commanding officers issue standing orders against patronizing certain local bars, including the bar in the article? I am not seeing the problem here.
11:36 pm
There are very, very, very, very, very, very few lesbian bars/clubs in DC. This is also in a city where gay establishments have been forced to close left and right, where we only this coming weekend are going to have a strip club that caters to gay men after the stadium forced an entire district of gay nightlife to shut down (not to mention the loss of venues for other club cultures). Queer women have the right to create their own spaces and do their own thing. Not allowing unaccompanied men into Phase 1 isn't that big of a deal. You're acting like it's the last bastion of segregation for fuck's sake. Yes, gay men (or, at least, white, middle class, homosexual men who take up a certain part of queer culture) have been normalized and mainstreamed, but not all of us queers have that luxury.
Butt the fuck out. Phase 1 has been going since before you came out as straight, hon.
11:43 pm
You really need to start learning about the club scene and history of this city before you write about it. Every time you touch the scene that we've been developing for decades here, you act dismissive and seem to write from a perspective to generate maximum lulz.
12:18 am
Hi I'm Legba and I completely agree with you Amanda. You go girl!
1:17 am
This article is absolutely rediculous! Phase 1 (the ONLY lesbian bar in DC by the way) does not discriminate against men it simply has a policy that men must be accompanied by a female. Like several others have stated, this policy is in effect because us women, us lesbians want and need a safe space to hang out, relax and be ourselves without some straight man hitting on us or making inappropriate comments. It is for our saftey as well. Some straight men think they can "turn" us and a drunk straight man with this attitude is dangerous. We just want a place to be ourselves without fear. Everywhere else in DC we have to be careful because homophoia is alive and well. Having a straight man in phase that is hitting on the women or trying to grab them on the dancefloor is scary and irritating to us women who just want to be able to hang out without being verbally or physically assulted by a man. There are plenty of bars in the city that men can go to and hit on women. They don't need to do it at the only lesbian bar in the city.It's a safe space for women and I am so grateful to the bar mangaer and the owner for making it that way. There is NO PLACE ELSE TO GO where we can feel comfortable and safe from the stares and comments of straight men. Thank god the policy of phase has been upheld or I might not have been comfortable coming out at all.
11:19 am
On one of my most recent trips to the Phase, a lecherous & disgusting hetero man who seems to think leering at women & making inappropriate comments is fun tried to follow my girl & I into the bar. I was incredibly thankful for the policy that night and others.
Y'all live in a fantasy world if you think the straight men around the Phase just co-exist peacefully with us dykes. Harassment is commonplace, and violence against LGBT folk is on the rise thanks to Prop. 8 & other discriminatory laws being passed. But I suppose hetero privilege can give you blinders. Please, straight people, keep telling us how our lives are & how we should live them, since we obviously are living in your world & therefore can't possibly have any perspective of our own. We really appreciate that.
11:24 am
As a patron of (and a sometimes performer at) Phase 1, I appreciate that Allen & the rest of the staff do their very best to try to maintain an environment where their clientele can feel safe and comfortable to be who they are... Without the gawking, groping and unwanted advances of individuals to whom this bar does not specifically cater.
To the folks complaining about discrimination... please consider this unsolicited observation: Your straight privilege is showing.
There is one bar in Washington, DC specifically dedicated to lesbians. Can you not wrap your brain around the fact that as lesbians/trans/queerfolk there are (sadly) very few places in the world, much less Washington, DC, where *we* can go, have a beer with our partner or friends, and not feel threatened (whether *you* think your presence is threatening or not) or like the newest, most exciting exhibit at the zoo?
If you are so respectful of the queer community, you would consider this prior to making your evening plans.
The request at Phase 1 is that men are accompanied by a female escort. It's very simple. The policy is in place to protect its regular patrons. Have you thought that most policies like this are instituted after having to do just that- not just once, but multiple times?
This is a bar- they want to make money. But- do they sell 12 beers to 2 dudes who come in one night and leer or generally make asses out of themselves, at the expense of their regular patrons who come in with a group of friends every weekend and dance/drink/spend money? It just doesn't make business sense, either.
Have you ever been in a bar, just trying to go out and have a good time- and had to have been evacuated because of a bomb threat- a threat that was specifically targeted to that bar because they catered to queers? I have. No, it wasn't Phase 1, but it was an experience I will never forget, and because of this, I directly understand (and appreciate) how and why these policies are in place.
And finally, I also want to throw out there that there when discussing the dynamics of minorities and minority spaces, there is no such thing as "reverse discrimination." Again, your privilege is showing. I suggest that if you sincerely want to pursue integrating yourself into spaces that don't specifically cater to you, or if you truly want to be an ally, that you learn to respect that and educate yourself.
11:46 am
Amitai, you are the reason men can't go in there.
11:49 am
So are we going to be seeing a column soon on how heterosexual bars that don't allow unaccompanied men or allow 18+ women and 21+ men in are just as bad? Because there are a crapload more of these situations.
12:27 pm
Interesting that there's no mention of the black gay bar/club that even closer in proximity to the marine barracks than Phase1 1, Remington's, and Hawk and Dove.
12:28 pm
I have a couple problems with this blog posting:
1. It makes men and marines look like victims because of an informal policy set to protect women.
2. I’m baffled that this was written by a woman that should know better that sex discrimination and sexual violence against women is alive and well.
3. That the DC Human Rights Act’s weight is being thrown around with the intent of forcing more privilege to a group of people that already have more privilege than all of the female population. That was not its intent.
I find it really irritating that this article makes women fighting for safe space look like that bad ‘guys’. I can wrap my brain around having an intelligent conversation about the complexities of integrating different sexualities and genders into one space. I can see having an intelligent conversation about the holes in the DC Human Rights Act. I can see how this article could have gone in a lot of different directions, but instead it was written by a woman criticizing an establishment that has fought it’s ass off to provide a safe space to WOMEN for thirty years by making men look like victims. Wow. Brillant.
2:10 pm
By framing the (almost negligible) conflict between one unaccompanied bro who wants a beer and one bar that refuses to serve him, and implying this is a meaningful example of sex-based discrimination, the author manages to insult local straight men, Phase 1 and our very notions of anti-discrimination law.
She insults straight, male would-be patrons of Phase by categorizing them as lazy tail-chasers whose only reason not to harass lesbians is that they are too busy harassing their preferred targets, straight women and gay men. I think it is somewhere closer to the truth to say that a majority of straight men are NOT Neanderthals, and approach lesbian spaces respectfully, and that conversely, many straight men are not discriminating when it comes to harassing homos.
Second, she denigrates the treasured Phase, one of the few places (nightlife or otherwise) where we can go with our friends and girlfriends and feel accepted and safe. The article makes Phase sound like one big “Angry Lesbian” who keeps men out due to spite, and long after it is necessary, rather than the pretty inclusive place it is. (I know I’m not the only one who appreciates, rather than just tolerates, the handful of accompanied men who are mixing, laughing and dancing appropriately at Phase.)
Lastly, the author is happy to throw in the term “discrimination” without actually attempting to grapple with the notion. This is a hugely nebulous idea that our society has been trying to iron out in an intellectually honest and contextually-sensitive way for centuries. While I don’t think the law is settled on this particular form of “reverse discrimination,” it doesn’t take a judge to sense that there is a very meaningful difference between what Phase does on a Friday night to ensure a fun and secure space and, oh…sex discrimination in employment. Ruth Bader Ginsberg, a true crusader for sex equality, would probably sprain her forehead rolling her eyes at this article.
2:26 pm
I went in there one time about 10 years ago - fairly modest and non-threatening looking guy that I am. I had no idea what kind of place it was. I asked the lady at the door if it would be all right to go in. "You can go in," she said giving me a once over, "but you're not going to get lucky." I thought that was fair enough.
3:11 pm
The real issue is that the citizens of the District of Columbia have democratically decided that it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of sex in DC. Period. The club is risking its liquor license on its sexist behavior.
If it has had problems with Marines in the past, I'm sure that a call to the Commandant's office would clear things up. By the way, there are women in the
Marines, so the idea that there shouldn't be any Marines in a lesbian bar doesn't make much sense.
In addition, antagonizing male Marines by illegal discrimination is a bad way to make gay folks safer in the neighborhood outside the bar.
3:30 pm
Some of you ladies are totally not seeing the point of this article. If gay bars are going to discriminate than its open season for straight bars to do the same. Shes merely pointing out a double standard of sorts.
If you bothered to read the other stories and blogs that Amanda writes you would see she is fair to both sides on many issues. Most of the time defending gays/lesbians/ and trans people.
If she only ever defended gays- than the straights would be all over her about discrimination. This is non bias editorial work.
12:58 am
Some of you ladies are totally not seeing the point of this article. If gay bars are going to discriminate than its open season for straight bars to do the same. Shes merely pointing out a double standard of sorts.
It's been open season for as long as any of us can remember, only the open season isn't being let into your bars, it's the beating and murders that take place if we hit on you in them. So we created our own bars, and our own spaces, where we could be safe and not harassed. Besides what on earth makes you think we'd want to go to your bars? You have lousy service, the drinks are weak, and it's full of puking women and men who fight. MPD even knows that opening a straight bar or club always increases their workload and crime, but a gay one is smooth sailing for everyone.
There are plenty of Marines who frequent gay bars and who behave themselves, mostly because they're gay themselves. That isn't the issue. The issue is that Phase 1 is the sole (Baltimore has more lesbian bars) remaining and women have a right not to be harassed by drunk straight guys, or worse, as often happens.
Some of us still remember Matthew Shepard and NONE of us would like to die like that.
12:45 am
As a Gay Male do straight men really know what a real Lesbian looks like?..they could whoop your ass..so find a Mens bar youll find better looking ladies there!!!!!!!
10:27 am
It is sad to see that so many of the excuses made in defense of this policy have been the same justifications used to discriminate against the gay community (and other minorities) for decades in this country (to have a safe, non-threatening environment, to be with our own kind, etc.). Not only does this weaken the anti-discrimination cause, but it is a disservice to the many straight men who have supported the gay community.
The policy may be loose or "informal," but it is still wrong. Sure, no one is stopping men from entering. They just have to have a female escort. Discrimination with a caveat; sounds familiar...... "Boy, you can ride this here bus as long as you sit yer dark ass in the back."
5:53 pm
ehb:
Did you really just compare 200+ years of institutionalized racism and slavery of an entire race of people to a bunch of lesbians requiring men to have a female escort so that said lesbians can feel safe in their own fucking bar?
Wow. That's just so deeply wrong on so many levels that I can't even begin to address it. Or you.
Just...wow.
11:20 pm
Thanks Amanda for being brave...geez yall!... BTW do they know that the Mill is closer?? ( what the hells the difference if gay is ok and you just want some beers man!???)-go figure. You guys are such the entitled gendered pussy's!! -please find another venue! Despite what you think,this domain ain't yours! and ladies.. Phase isn't the only Lesbian bar! ....others exist, are black owned and all gays are welcome!
YES, racism, sexism, and stupid people are all alive and well...but we gay folk ARE making progress people don'tcha think?...one more thing puleeze stop comparing racism to gayism!! SOOOO NOT THE SAME THING!
Marines pick your battles, bc i'm afraid you won't win this one!
2:14 am
PS--
No, no, I did not make that comparison at all. But nice try on the uber-dramatic deflection. What I compared are two equally flawed policies of discrimination, one present, one past.
The main point of my post was to note the hypocrisy of a policy put in place by the LGBT community (or a segment of it, anyway) currently fighting against discrimination--while using similar justifications to support the policy, no less.
In any case, I understand the need to feel safe and protected, but there has to be a better, less outwardly discriminating way to provide it.
4:20 am
robby is a bafoon. he's going to have the council look in to it?
do you know that we have the worst public schooling system? pverty, homelessness, drugs? aren't there bigger fish to fry you fucking moron?
yeah i said it. i'll go as low as i want. get a life people, and go to another bar. like betty said there's like 10,000 other ones in DC.
12:22 pm
i just want to make the point that being gay doesn't make it clear to me that you're an ally. i agree that phase's policy is a little michigan fest, but other than blog tempests in a teabag, i don't see anybody freaking out over it.
a more pressing question to me: why is there a no dancing policy at the eagle?
4:19 pm
Sure you did!- Can we please have a rule long enough to break it too..gawd!! and no delfection was made whatsoever dear...but your comments are really just backwards-umm..when exactly was it that your ancestors weren't feeling safe? see..there's a HUGE difference betweeen "reverse discrimination" as Helen stated and just plain ignorrance! you obviously confused the two.. tell me, how in the HELL does this rule weaken anti- discrimination " policies"? puleeze! partying, gay and straight folk have created NECESSARY party ettiquite for years! You try having a nice time out with the girls and some drunk jerk.... you guys can have some pretty violent unprovoked tendencies. Damn, nevermind i forgot you ARE a girl! -LOL!
12:39 pm
Funny, I am a Marine and I worked at Hawk N Dove as security/doorman. There is no such "policy". When I was stationed at the barracks in 1990 there was a march on the barracks during one of the friday night parade events that brought a lot of attention because of the "grenade" that may or may not have been thrown into an establishment. Phase I has been there forever and no one really paid any attention to it at all.
People are people, no matter where, when, or what uniform they wear.
Semper Fi