Raiding gay bars in 'progressive' Seattle

[cbabe]

https://www.thestranger.com/queer/2024/02/01/79367907/liquor-and-cannabis-board-pauses-enforcement-of-lewd-conduct-regulations

Feb 1, 2024 at 6:11 pm
Liquor and Cannabis Board Pauses Enforcement of Lewd Conduct Regulations

Change Comes After Fierce Community Reponse

VIVIAN MCCALL

Well, that was fast.

After raiding four gay bars last week and finding nothing but a nipple and jockstraps, the Liquor and Cannabis Board has paused enforcement of its lewd conduct rules, according to a signed letter sent to state officials.

The Board also paused participation in Seattle’s Joint Enforcement Team, a coalition of police, fire, and other city departments, and will reopen rulemaking to amend or repeal the lewd conduct violation regulations.

The Board also said it won’t issue citations for anything they saw over the weekend—including a bartender’s exposed nipple at The Cuff Complex and jockstraps seen at The Seattle Eagle—and it will review its past practices and policies, including the use of photographs as evidence.

The Board wrote that it is working with the LGBTQ caucus and legislative committees to "try to find solutions through legislation that further our mutual efforts."

…more… cops with flashlights…photograph patrons… mayor says sorry…

[ShazzieB]

1. WTAF.

Seattle is NOT a place where I would expect something like this to happen. What century is this again?

[cbabe]

2. Sadly, don't let the pretty scenery fool you. Seattle

was a sundowner town into the 1970s. Boeing poured toxic pollution in the sound for years. Passive aggressive politics recently divided the city into wards like Chicago fiefdoms. The Seattle freeze is real.

A facade of hip cool with a side of salmon.

[demigoddess]

3. I just hope my gay friends are safe. they seem to have left the area.

[ShazamIam]

4. Do they raid topless and female stripper bars? The article doesn't say Kind of twisted to me if they only raid LGBQT

bars and clubs.

Relevant sites and posts about Seattle.

Top 10 Best Strip bars, Seattle
https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=strip+bars&find_loc=Seattle%2C+WA

Seattle Is One of the Most Difficult and Least Lucrative Cities to Be a Stripper
https://www.thestranger.com/features/2019/06/05/40390109/seattle-is-one-of-the-most-difficult-and-least-lucrative-cities-to-be-a-stripper

Just calling for fairness and equality. /s

[cbabe]

6. My take is cops et al were caught

with their pants down. So to speak. Did not expect the immediate furious pushback. They huff n puff and say sorry. Waiting to see if/when the ‘regulation’ is actually changed.

Seattle politics has taken a right turn. This also feels like anti- drag queen pols trying it on.

(Of course they left the lady clubs alone. Naked ladies are ok in patriarchy.)

[SarahD]

5. Lewd for whom?

I can see where someone might accidentally wander into a gay club. Maybe. But not likely. Certainly they would turn around and exit before they got much of an eyeful. So who is being offended, frightened, violated, etc? Maybe they could start breaking up church services full of people who are intent on doing me actual harm.