In Brief

Staff Reports

St. Petersburg Florida Bar Apologises To Transgendered Customer Tossed Out By Bouncer

Bishop Tavern and Lounge in St. Petersburg, FL

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA-- Alex Borrego and a friend were invited to the weekly ladies night at a popular Tampa Bay area pub by one of its employees, and after a heated argument with one of the bar's bouncers, were escorted out. According to Borrego, the reason was that while she and her friend were enjoying the discounted drinks and benefits afforded the bar's women patrons at that special event, one bouncer decided that because Borrego is transgendered woman, and her friend is a drag queen, they needed to be cut-off and also asked to leave.

In an interview with the Tampa Times newspaper, Borrego said that she and her friend had walked into Bishop Tavern and Lounge in St. Petersburg last Thursday night looking for an evening of relaxation and fun. They were met by a bouncer working the bar's front door who invited Borrego and one of her friends — a drag queen — to partake in free drinks as part of the Tavern's weekly "ladies night." Later, while enjoying their pair vodka and cranberry juice cocktails from their pink cups, another bouncer approached the pair and told them they weren't allowed to be there.

"You guys don't get to participate because you're dudes," the bouncer reportedly told Borrego and her friend.

Afterward, a few in Borrego's group, which included three female-to-male transgender people, launched a Facebook campaign to boycott the Bishop Tavern. The group understood the bar's denial of her friend's participation in "ladies night," Borrego said. But as a legal woman, her treatment was nothing short of discrimination, she said.

Borrego was born male, but went through two years' worth of hormone adjustment and gender-change measures to become female. [ Which is listed on her Florida Driver's Licence.]

"Legally, I'm a woman," Borrego said. "And to deny me to participate in ladies night — that's very disrespectful."

By midday Friday, the Facebook group had attracted more than 250 fans, who issued messages of support for the boycott.

Dean Marshlack, the owner of Bishop Tavern and Lounge, saw the response and quickly issued an apology via the bar's Facebook page.

"We would like to sincerely apologize for this," the apology read. "This event has given us the opportunity to better educate our staff to ensure everyone has a pleasant experience regardless of who you are. A co-owner of Bishop has had thorough conversations with two of those involved." ~ Tampa Times

The Facebook protest page against the Tavern has since been removed and commenters have responded positively to the Tavern's public apology.

Non-Discrimination Ordinance Passage For LGBTQ People Passes in Flint Michigan

FLINT, MICHIGAN -- Monday the city council in Flint, Michigan, passed an non-discrimination ordinance that ensured that all residents will be treated fairly and equally. The ordinance includes crucial protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in housing and public accommodations [ A previous Flint ordinance already protected against LGBT persons against discrimination in employment.]

"This is a great victory for the residents of Flint. Equality Michigan congratulates the advocates who worked tirelessly to bring about this needed ordinance and educate fair-minded residents about the discrimination that gay and transgender people face," said Denise Brogan-Kator, Executive Director of Equality Michigan.

"All residents of Flint, including gay and transgender people, should feel safe in their own homes," said local leader Nayyirah Shariff. "Nobody should have to live in fear that they can be legally kicked out of their homes, or denied service in a restaurant just because of who they are."

Local advocates have been supported by the Flint AIDS Wellness Center led by Stevi Atkins, council member Dale Weighill, long time Flint supporter Art Reyes, the Unity Michigan Coalition, and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, which held a leadership training Power Summit in Flint this past fall.

Recent polling data released by the Greenburg-Quinlan-Rosner research group shows that 65% of Michiganders support making Michigan an equal opportunity state. With today's action, the city of Flint joins 18 other cities in Michigan, and more than 100 across the nation who have successfully implemented similar ordinances.

A copy of the ordinance is available here.