Protestors Take Stand Against Dallas Gay Bar

Just one week after Dallas gay bar owner David Moore banned all drag queens from his establishment, Crews Inn, a mob of upset protestors took action.

After reading an article in the Dallas Voice, a local LGBT publication, several gay, straight and transgender persons took a stand against what they called discrimination by the bar owner. More than 15 activists lined the sidewalk outside Crews Inn around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22. According to attendees, three times as many activists were there earlier that evening.

"Support your whole community. Do the right thing. Crews Inn discriminates against transgender people" was shout from the sidewalk adjacent to the bar on Tuesday night, the busiest night of the week for Crews Inn.

Kelli Busey (pictured left) was there holding one of several signs that read "Equal rights for make-up and tights." Kelli identifies herself as a transgender female. Though the staff allowed Busey entrance to the bar that evening, she explains its because the photo on her identification card matches her appearance.

According to the article in the Dallas Voice, Moore was told the Dallas Police Department and the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission would rule in his favor since a customer's appearance must match her picture ID.

But, the angry protestors still felt that Moore had done a great deal of unjustice to the transgender community. By deciding to ban the entire group, instead of holding individuals accountable for their actions, Moore had turned his back on the community. According to Busey, protests will continue next week if a public apology has not been made by Moore.

At 11:52 p.m., David Moore, nor anyone from his staff had addressed the protestors. Police officers stood by patiently, but no one was arrested or injured during the demonstration.

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Dallas Gay Bar Owner Does Something Stupid

Yep. That's right. A Dallas gay bar owner, David Moore of the Crews Inn, did something pretty darn stupid recently when he kicked out local drag favorites, Ivana Tramp and Celeste Williams for no apparent reason.

A recent article in the Dallas Voice quoted “Drag queens act like they are divas and think they can’t do no wrong,” Moore said. “They have stolen money straight off the bar, hassled customers for drinks and locked themselves in the bathroom with a bunch of guys. And with Tuesday being our busiest night, there is just no way for me to keep the drag queens under control then. I don’t want drag queens in here that are going to misbehave.”

According to the article, a bartender came over and told Tramp and Williams they had to go. The alleged former drag queen bartender also said that Moore was in a mood and he didn't want drag queens, trannies or girls in his bar.

“It’s kind of like I’m a positive role model in the community,” Tramp said. “It wasn’t like I was there hammered or begging people to buy me a drink. I felt like it was very embarrassing and degrading.”

Somehow Moore came to the conclusion that he should just go ahead and ban all drag queens due to the bad behavior of other cross dressers in the past. Beginning July 15, 2008, Moore and bar staff began removing drag queens from the bar.

A protest has been announced for Tuesday, July 22 (Tuesdays are the Crews Inn's busiest night). Apparently, Ivana is downright pissed. And, well, I don't blame her. Imagine if a few gay men "locked themselves in the bathroom with a bunch of guys" and "hassled customers for drinks." One would think the same rule would apply...kick all gay men out of the gay bar. If my calculations are correct, Moore had better start kicking out all the gay men now, because some of their behavior matches that of these allegedly renegade drag queens on any given night, like clown-carring a restroom, working a drink at the bar and steeling booty. And, by booty I mean valuables, of course.

My point is...what's good for the goose is good for the gander. What Moore should be doing is punishing the individuals for their individual acts, not an entire group. What is this, 1963?

You have to admit...this Dallas gay bar owner did something pretty stupid. He turned his back on part of our community. Not only does he owe an apology to the countless innocent drag queens out there who were innocently dragged into this whole ordeal by his prejudice acts, but he should also be made into an example for other bigots out there who dare cause further separation within our community.

Though I'm personally not a drag queen, I am a gay man and I do respect the band of brothers and sisters that make up this LGBT community. I will stick by the side of every good citizen that makes up our L, G, B and T. For this reason, I refuse to step foot in the Crews Inn until a mutual resolve has been made clear by both parties involved. True, I am only one person. But, to this one person this is dispicable and intolerable. Plus, have you seen my bar tab??

Mr. Moore...WTF?

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