Image by netik from his DNA Lounge’s Mardi Gras event photoset, featuring The Hubba Hubba Revue.
This week’s SF Chronicle column is The ABC’s New Anti-Gay Crusade? Violet Blue: ABC’s recent targeting of LGBT events at the DNA Lounge is a tragic non-surprise. The situation really sucks and saddens many corners of many communities: help the DNA Lounge by donating to their legal fund. Here’s a snip — you’ll want to read the whole thing for the head-scratching details and history of ABC-LGBT issues:
The last event I attended at the historic local nightclub DNA Lounge was a birthday party for the Electronic Frontier Foundation (the leading civil liberties group dedicated to defending digital rights.) But since the DNA’s owner recently disclosed the seemingly dirty pool tactics of California’s Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to shut down the club via undercover visits to the DNA’s LGBT events, perhaps the party should have been for the ACLU.
The DNA Lounge was originally opened as a gay leather bar in 1977 called “Chaps” and had many iterations since — including past performances by Chris Isaak, Prince, 2 Live Crew, Primus, Nina Hagen and more — and was purchased by open source software hacker Jamie Zawinski in 1999. But the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control is allegedly trying to put DNA Lounge permanently out of business, and according to Zawinski, has used the venue’s occasional openly gay events to send in undercover agents with cameras, have accused the DNA of “running a disorderly house injurious to the public welfare and morals” and are trying to permanently revoke the DNA’s liquor license.
So why does it look like the ABC is suddenly hating on the DNA’s gay events, and possibly taking (some pretty questionable) measures to shut down the club? The short version is that the club wanted to become all-ages — a much-needed rarity in San Francisco these days for live music — and the DNA required a restaurant (food and liquor) license to do so. For the license upgrade, the DNA garnered the support of not only local neighbors, but also the SFPD. However, the ABC denied the DNA’s application, and the DNA upset The Godfather by appealing. Which is when according to Zawinski, “As a direct result of our having filed an appeal, ABC began sending undercover agents into the club during our gay and lesbian promotions looking for dirt. As far as we can tell, undercover agents were present at Escandalo and Cream events during March, April, and May of 2008.”
All of the ABC’s accusations relate to two monthly events that used to happen at the DNA: “Cream,” a lesbian dance party; and “Escandalo”, a gay male Latin dance party. The DNA canceled both of those events after they learned that the ABC was taking action against the club. Meanwhile, The Eagle is a block away; The Folsom Street Fair happens next door every September.
It’s interesting to wonder why the ABC went to Escandalo and Cream. (…read more, sfgate.com)
Image by Mr. Nightshade from his DNA Lounge’s Mardi Gras event photoset, featuring The Hubba Hubba Revue.
Are we simply going to dismiss the idea that ABC agents might *enjoy* a little gay male Latin dancing every once in awhile?
You’d think ABC would have much better things to do with its time than persecute minority groups.
“Lewdness”, seriously. Do these guys work for the ABC because they prefer smoking crack?
Thanks for helping to publicize this fight. It effects several friends of mine.