Comments on: Guerilla Gays turned away from Houston bar http://www.dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/2009/03/14/guerilla-gays-turned-away-from-houston-bar/ The Official Weblog of the Dallas Voice Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:11:57 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Kia http://www.dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/2009/03/14/guerilla-gays-turned-away-from-houston-bar/comment-page-1/#comment-9250 Kia Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:58:31 +0000 http://www.dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/?p=4038#comment-9250 Whatever Jim, the Union Bar is a distillery of douche! Massengil and Summer's Eve called, they want their lavender scent back. I'm calling all my peeps to boycott. Once the gays turn their back on you, it's a snowball effect (a bedazzled snowball). Whatever Jim, the Union Bar is a distillery of douche! Massengil and Summer’s Eve called, they want their lavender scent back. I’m calling all my peeps to boycott. Once the gays turn their back on you, it’s a snowball effect (a bedazzled snowball).

]]> By: Mike Copenhaver http://www.dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/2009/03/14/guerilla-gays-turned-away-from-houston-bar/comment-page-1/#comment-9243 Mike Copenhaver Mon, 16 Mar 2009 02:51:46 +0000 http://www.dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/?p=4038#comment-9243 What bar limits entry to their posted capacity? Union Bar's ad on eventective.com says they can accommodate up to 300. http://www.eventective.com/USA/Texas/Houston/290780/Union-Bar-and-Lounge.html What bar limits entry to their posted capacity? Union Bar’s ad on eventective.com says they can accommodate up to 300.

http://www.eventective.com/USA/Texas/Houston/290780/Union-Bar-and-Lounge.html

]]> By: Lamar http://www.dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/2009/03/14/guerilla-gays-turned-away-from-houston-bar/comment-page-1/#comment-9241 Lamar Sun, 15 Mar 2009 23:51:47 +0000 http://www.dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/?p=4038#comment-9241 Well I can tell you from being there on Friday night and there was no one in the bar. I only waited about 5 minutes because it was raining and once I heard the door guy say that we aren't letting any of "yall" in. At the point I returned to my car and went on to another bar. Now, I also know that from the the few people that did make it in bar that there were very people in the bar and that only one table was reserved for a party outside the events table. Now, I personally was insulted not b/c I couldn't spend my $$$ at this bar, but because in 2009 we still deal with these kind of issues. I am keenly aware that Union Bar was told about the event but yet in still the treated people very poorly. By admission the event had 50 reserved spots, but only 10-15 people actually made it inside. So don't believe the hype, Union Bar and its owner think that they could just do whatever and that we as a community would do nothing about it. I think that this perception will change in the future. I hope for there sake that they make the appropriate changes for the future or consequently they will no longer be in business in Houston. PS- The word is already out no only amongst our community, but also with our straight counterparts that many of us happen to be friends with and they have vowed support for us as well. Well I can tell you from being there on Friday night and there was no one in the bar. I only waited about 5 minutes because it was raining and once I heard the door guy say that we aren’t letting any of “yall” in. At the point I returned to my car and went on to another bar. Now, I also know that from the the few people that did make it in bar that there were very people in the bar and that only one table was reserved for a party outside the events table. Now, I personally was insulted not b/c I couldn’t spend my $$$ at this bar, but because in 2009 we still deal with these kind of issues. I am keenly aware that Union Bar was told about the event but yet in still the treated people very poorly. By admission the event had 50 reserved spots, but only 10-15 people actually made it inside. So don’t believe the hype, Union Bar and its owner think that they could just do whatever and that we as a community would do nothing about it. I think that this perception will change in the future. I hope for there sake that they make the appropriate changes for the future or consequently they will no longer be in business in Houston.

PS- The word is already out no only amongst our community, but also with our straight counterparts that many of us happen to be friends with and they have vowed support for us as well.

]]> By: Tisha http://www.dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/2009/03/14/guerilla-gays-turned-away-from-houston-bar/comment-page-1/#comment-9232 Tisha Sun, 15 Mar 2009 16:08:57 +0000 http://www.dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/?p=4038#comment-9232 Guerilla Gay Dallas has had several outings with little incident. Did the Houston guys pick a venue too small for their group? Did they stray too far away from the RSVP list? Was this truly discrimination? There are too many variables that could have made this first outing a disaster. It would be so easy to blame the bar and then start protesting like crazy but I like to know the full story before I put my full heart into it. Guerilla Gay Dallas has had several outings with little incident. Did the Houston guys pick a venue too small for their group? Did they stray too far away from the RSVP list? Was this truly discrimination? There are too many variables that could have made this first outing a disaster. It would be so easy to blame the bar and then start protesting like crazy but I like to know the full story before I put my full heart into it.

]]> By: James http://www.dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/2009/03/14/guerilla-gays-turned-away-from-houston-bar/comment-page-1/#comment-9228 James Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:03:19 +0000 http://www.dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/?p=4038#comment-9228 People I do not understand why you would want to go to a bar where you are not wanted. That does not seam to be the case here. The Bar was just Full. In that case Find Another Bar. There are so a lot of Bars In Houston. People I do not understand why you would want to go to a bar where you are not wanted. That does not seam to be the case here. The Bar was just Full. In that case Find Another Bar. There are so a lot of Bars In Houston.

]]> By: Dale Hyde http://www.dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/2009/03/14/guerilla-gays-turned-away-from-houston-bar/comment-page-1/#comment-9226 Dale Hyde Sun, 15 Mar 2009 08:33:35 +0000 http://www.dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/?p=4038#comment-9226 As an editor and reporter for NowPublic.com, I would have to ask why this business does not answer my calls? I have tried to investigate this to view both sides of the story, yet this businees WILL NOT return calls... only receive and answering machine. View our story here: http://my.nowpublic.com/world/go-bar-houston-texas-not-if-you-are-gay-updated Thanks, Cypresso As an editor and reporter for NowPublic.com, I would have to ask why this business does not answer my calls? I have tried to investigate this to view both sides of the story, yet this businees WILL NOT return calls… only receive and answering machine.

View our story here:

http://my.nowpublic.com/world/go-bar-houston-texas-not-if-you-are-gay-updated

Thanks,
Cypresso

]]> By: Jim Davis http://www.dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/2009/03/14/guerilla-gays-turned-away-from-houston-bar/comment-page-1/#comment-9222 Jim Davis Sun, 15 Mar 2009 00:51:36 +0000 http://www.dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/?p=4038#comment-9222 Regarding the night of Friday 3-10-2009. “The staff and management at Union Bar are very apologetic for the misunderstanding that happened at their place of business. Union Bar in no way refuses entry to any persons due to sexual orientation, race, gender or religion. We do have a capacity of 117 persons as set forth by the City Of Houston and The Fire Marshal. We follow this guild line to the letter for guest and employee safety. This was the main factor or refusing entry Friday night. Persons have booked parties 6 to 7 weeks in advance and have limited of RSVP so their guests have the right to entry first. The Guest in question was allowed to bring his 50 RSVP guest. His party showed up at 10 with approximately 200 guests and could in no way accommodate that. We offered to take all 50 guests and he demanded that we let in all. Accordance to city code we could not allow this. At no time was the staff of Union Bar rude or uninventive to their needs while inside. At 10pm we were almost at capacity and the enclosed pictures will show that (1) We were almost full (2) We had a very high numbers of male guests that were not turned away.” We would be open to speak with the GL community on this and help prove to the G&L committee that we are a gay friendly bar! If you have any questions please contact Union Management for further assistance. Regarding the night of Friday 3-10-2009. “The staff and management at Union Bar are very apologetic for the misunderstanding that happened at their place of business. Union Bar in no way refuses entry to any persons due to sexual orientation, race, gender or religion. We do have a capacity of 117 persons as set forth by the City Of Houston and The Fire Marshal. We follow this guild line to the letter for guest and employee safety. This was the main factor or refusing entry Friday night. Persons have booked parties 6 to 7 weeks in advance and have limited of RSVP so their guests have the right to entry first. The Guest in question was allowed to bring his 50 RSVP guest. His party showed up at 10 with approximately 200 guests and could in no way accommodate that. We offered to take all 50 guests and he demanded that we let in all. Accordance to city code we could not allow this. At no time was the staff of Union Bar rude or uninventive to their needs while inside. At 10pm we were almost at capacity and the enclosed pictures will show that (1) We were almost full (2) We had a very high numbers of male guests that were not turned away.”

We would be open to speak with the GL community on this and help prove to the G&L committee that we are a gay friendly bar!

If you have any questions please contact Union Management for further assistance.

]]> By: Jim Summers http://www.dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/2009/03/14/guerilla-gays-turned-away-from-houston-bar/comment-page-1/#comment-9221 Jim Summers Sun, 15 Mar 2009 00:31:26 +0000 http://www.dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/?p=4038#comment-9221 There seems to be some confusion as to what happened at Union Bar Lounge last night. The owner seems eager to try to fix it, and indeed on yelp.com an organizer(?) says: http://www.yelp.com/biz/union-bar-lounge-houston#hrid:BdSomt2Q8UaEbGvq1sTuGA "As an active member of the gay and lesbian community I need to chime in here. We targeted union bar last night as part of our gay awareness program. I really don't like to do this to "known" gay friendly bars. Union is gay friendly by the way! We had all met prior Thursday at Montrose Mining Company to discuss the plan. What we do is go to a straight bar and "rush' the door. Confuse eveyone and then cause a big scene to get people aware that in 2009 Gay pride is stronger then ever. To again promote gay awareness. Sadly some of my boys took it a little to far and started yelling at the door boys and managers. I understand that they never thought 150 gay men and women would come all at once. No one was turned away as I later found out they were full and couldn't let anyone else in. Myself and Devon came back to union later that night and had a really nice time. Loved the free shots! The music was good and everyone was having a good time without the drama we had caused prior in the evening. I for one will not take part of the Gay Bar awareness program. Its hurting business and we are taking it to far. Union Bar is 1000% Gay friendly. Union Bar on behalf of the gay and lesbian community, myself and my partner, we apologize for the nonsense and silliness we caused last night." While the idea of "Gays Not Allowed In Bar" is no doubt headline worthy, perhaps this story needs some further research to see if this really what happened. For the record, I am a gay man in Nashville TN who saw the story as it hit the blogsphere. Out of curiousity I followed up with the owner, who seemed distraught with the story, and the idea that he was anti-gay. I hope you will follow up with both patrons who were turned away, and with the owner, to get a clearer picture of what occurred. There seems to be some confusion as to what happened at Union Bar Lounge last night. The owner seems eager to try to fix it, and indeed on yelp.com an organizer(?) says:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/union-bar-lounge-houston#hrid:BdSomt2Q8UaEbGvq1sTuGA

“As an active member of the gay and lesbian community I need to chime in here. We targeted union bar last night as part of our gay awareness program. I really don’t like to do this to “known” gay friendly bars. Union is gay friendly by the way! We had all met prior Thursday at Montrose Mining Company to discuss the plan. What we do is go to a straight bar and “rush’ the door. Confuse eveyone and then cause a big scene to get people aware that in 2009 Gay pride is stronger then ever. To again promote gay awareness. Sadly some of my boys took it a little to far and started yelling at the door boys and managers. I understand that they never thought 150 gay men and women would come all at once. No one was turned away as I later found out they were full and couldn’t let anyone else in. Myself and Devon came back to union later that night and had a really nice time. Loved the free shots! The music was good and everyone was having a good time without the drama we had caused prior in the evening. I for one will not take part of the Gay Bar awareness program. Its hurting business and we are taking it to far. Union Bar is 1000% Gay friendly.

Union Bar on behalf of the gay and lesbian community, myself and my partner, we apologize for the nonsense and silliness we caused last night.”

While the idea of “Gays Not Allowed In Bar” is no doubt headline worthy, perhaps this story needs some further research to see if this really what happened.

For the record, I am a gay man in Nashville TN who saw the story as it hit the blogsphere. Out of curiousity I followed up with the owner, who seemed distraught with the story, and the idea that he was anti-gay. I hope you will follow up with both patrons who were turned away, and with the owner, to get a clearer picture of what occurred.

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