[dropcap]S[/dropcap]urely many a Midwesterner has landed in West Hollywood, a land of neon and brightly shining rainbow colors, and had the same thought as the iconic Dorothy Gale: “I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas any more.”
Nowhere would that be more true now than at The Abbey. And for no one would it be more true that lawmakers who are not friendly toward friends of Dorothy. If Travis Couture-Lovelady turns up at that well-known gay bar and restaurant on North Robertson Boulevard, for example, he’ll find himself denied entry.
So will any of his other Kansas House of Representatives colleagues who voted for House Bill 2453. And so will lawmakers from any state who’ve voted for similar bills permitting discrimination against LGBT people.
The Abbey announced today that it is creating a “deny entry list,” which will include lawmakers from any state who vote in favor of bills permitting discrimination against LGBT people. The famous gay bar says that headshots of state representatives who support such bills will be put on the security list.
“I’ve learned that I can’t stop crazy, ignorant or stupid, but I can stop it from coming through my doors,” said Abbey owner David Cooley. “I want to send a message to all those people out there who conflate Christian values with discrimination: we don’t want your kind here.”
The Abbey’s announcement comes on the heels of controversial proposed legislation in multiple states, with Kansas and Arizona’s bills having the highest profile:
• Kansas – House Bill 2453, which has now been blocked the state’s Senate, according to the Kansas City Star, which says that individuals and religious entities motivated by “sincerely held religious beliefs” about sex or gender can’t be legally required to “provide any services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, or privileges; provide counseling, adoption, foster care and other social services; or provide employment or employment benefits, related to, or related to the celebration of, any marriage, domestic partnership, civil union or similar arrangement.” The bill would specifically exempt people from performing or treating as valid “any marriage, domestic partnership, civil union or similar arrangement.”
• Arizona – Senate Bill 1062, which would allow businesses to turn away customers because of religious beliefs. The bill passed both the state’s House and Senate; it is not known whether Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer will sign it into law.
A press release from The Abbey also cites Idaho House Bill 426 and Ohio House Bill 82 and “similar proposals” in Tennessee, Utah, South Dakota and Oregon.
According to Brian Rosman, The Abbey’s spokesperson on this issue, the list of banned politicos is growing quickly.
“We are pulling these lists straight from public documents and voting records from state government websites,” Rosman said. “We just made the decision to do this over the weekend, so we are compiling as many names and photos as possible as quickly as we can. The list grows by the hour as we uncover more names.”
Rosman doesn’t know whether any of the banned lawmakers has patronized The Abbey in the past.
“It’s not very likely that these Kansan or Arizonan legislators have been to The Abbey, but it’s also not very likely LGBT people in Kansas or Arizona are infringing on anyone’s religious freedom by patronizing businesses,” he said.
Even beyond the discussed points about stooping to their level, the more obvious point is — how would anyone know? Is Cooley going to issue photo ID’s of these people and have bouncers ready to pounce if they’re discovered? What is they’re wearing a Groucho disguise? Seems awfully silly to me…
And speaking of the plastic bag ban…any news on a state initiative to ban the bans? This kind of totalitarian fascism has no place in this country, however well intentioned.
A.J.You’re a Genius, Im thinking, Mr. David Cooley is a very smart Busnessman and I think he may change his mind and maybe rewrit his statements and send it as an Editorial to The Times. But Ive got your back on whatever decision you make, Make the World Listen and see, We are the same as anyone else and you cant make up ignorant Laws, What next White Hetero Drinking fountains. A proven stepbackward for stupidity and ignorance. As for luca d come on Mr Cooley has been a supporter for us wheather we Live and Play in Weho or… Read more »
I agree with AJay as well, plus, I seriously doubt that any right-wing legislators will be frequenting the Abbey. Kinda silly, and who is going to know who they are, even if they did show up?
I agree with AJay. Ditto what he said.
if you only live, work and play in west hollywood, you would believe that gays are being rounded up and placed in re-education camps. duran is correct in speaking to the dramatic acceptance gay people enjoy in this country. a very dramatic change in just twenty years. but, when fear and loathing abounds, it’s best to play the victim and point fingers at ANYONE who dares to veer from the standard line. russia, really? you’re shocked by a country that has murdered tens of millions of it’s own people. stalin and lenin would have voted for the plastic bag ban… Read more »
Maybe this will help convince Council Member John Duran that his self proclaimed “post gay” era has not arrived yet & is not likely to occur anytime soon. I listened with incredulous ears at Mr. Duran’s rant about these being “post gay” times because gay people have assimilated into the rest of society & the fight for equal rights is over. Yeah, right! I was also incredulous that Duran wasn’t called out by anyone for his ludicrous & irresponsible statements. I hope that the anti gay laws such as those being passed or considered in Russia & Arizona among many… Read more »
So we effectively “ban” the people we don’t want in our club based upon our beliefs ….. sounds somewhat familiar. Here’s a thought. How about those influential members in our community, such as Mr. Cooley, how about we WELCOME everyone into our midst so they may observe first hand that we are not the boogey man wrapped in rainbow cellophane!! Bullying, bans and hate all beget bullying, bans and hate. Let’s take the higher road and not stoop to their level, shall we? The old “eye for eye” went out of date some time ago.