There is a new bar/lounge opening soon (exact date to be determined). It will be called the Rubio Bar & Lounge. From what I have been told it will located in the front of Cha, utilizing the terrace. That is not the part that is newsworthy. In publicizing the new bar it was revealed that Transvestites would not be allowed to enter. As you can imagine this set off a firestorm. Seeing as the owner of Cha is herself a member of this community, it was seen as a slap in the face. Transsa, an organization that fights for transgendered rights, wrote a scathing item about it. Because of the furor which ensued the restriction has now been lifted. This wasn't the first time that this has been done. The new place, Eco Le Kua, also had a flier stating no Transvestites. Everyone wants to create a place that offers 'exclusivity.' Unfortunately, only excluding Transvestites isn't the way to go about it. I am for discriminating against ALL transgendered people as long as we don't discriminate against: fat people; ugly people; black people; poor people, blind people; short people; Spanish people; people with AIDS; gossips, people who live in Naco; people with acne; people who are on Adam4Adam; white people; devil worshipers; people with long-hair; people who don't wear Prada; etc., etc., etc.Sarcasm intended. But you get my point?
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23 comments:
smart thing that the ban was lifted !!!They didn't want to see the "ladies" go from 0 to bitch in 2 seconds...
This is nothing new for years many have had problems accepting the transgender community into the gay community. I am not saying it is the kosher thing to do but then again to each there own,but like u say,it could be hate/discrimination against many other types of people has well.Therefore lets all get along, accept those who are different that you along with showing kindness and respectful to all human beings.I have no problem with them however, I must admit, my interest lies with studly masculine men, bottom line.(JFHT)
I'm not sure how to go about saying this as a gay man but there are times when I do go out to a gay club or bar that I want to see and be among men dressed as men only...I don't know if that is perhaps discrimination, I dont know, I have nothing against transgendered people, but I believe there are specific clubs for them to go to (infact many)...I know many gay men who feel this way as well...Im sorry if i've offended anyone but that is just my personal opinion...I love this blog and all the hard work that goes into keeping it rolling...Thanks again...
I tend to agree with the 9:04PM poster, but Chachita is a transvestite herself! So, she didn't want her own kind in her business? Wassup with that?
(Anon 09:04:00 PM) Looking at it again from your perspective, I tend to agree with you on that.
As someone who grew up in New York, and is now at the ripe ole age of 50, I feel the need to remind folks that the struggle for gay rights did not start with the macho men, or DL brothers, but with the limp wristed, cross-dressing, in your face gurls in the gay community. And, say what you will, this eclectic mix of people, partying together, marching together, gave rise to macho men now having the balls to want to dance together, and get this . . . even get married. So, let's not follow suit and start dividing up the community in terms of those who are acceptable and those who are not. Just not right.
Brien
NY
I don't want to get into a big argument over this because people are extremely reluctant to change their minds, but comments like that one above are a tad exasperating. What should anyone care if a man likes to dress like a woman? You don't find drag queens attractive, that's fine. I personally don't, at least not sexually. Otherwise, I think drag is fab, especially when done right, either for realness or irony. People should really question themselves when they reject others on the basis of their behavior. But we are very reluctant to question our internalized homophobia and mysoginy. And gay people should not start discriminating against each other. That's what straight society is for. This whole notion of saying they should go to their own clubs smacks of separated but equal. The outrageousness of drag queens and other sexual outlaws pushes the boundaries and creates a space where the rest of us can be more accepted. They were the ones fighting the police at Stonewall, and we should be eternally grateful for what they started. Finally, as I yelled once at the disco in my glory days: "Clothing is the first hipocrisy" (and ripped my shirt off. I could get away with that then. I was spending money like crazy on that dive). I'll leave you with RuPaul's inmortal words: "We are born naked. Everything else is drag."
Ramon Figueroa
Jackson, Mississippi
Excuse me, but not long ago an article was written about how well ESEDEKU was doing since they stuck to their principles.I did not read any comments about discrimination such as is appearing now.Apparently, its ok to discriminate against buggarones and their patrons but not against transvestities. Is it a morals issue ? Is it a money issue ? Which one of you is the great decider? Yes, i am an older man and this is my lifestyle you are discriminating against !!!I have paid my dues to advancing acceptance of the gay lifestyle in american society more than any of you could possibly know.Discrimination is always alive and well!! ESDEKU is a prime example as well as PARQUE DUARTE---enough of this self righteous BS!!
TexMex, you're all mixed up hon! too much salsa in that sauce I think. what the hell are you saying?
Brien,
NY
The original issue at hand here is that Chachita Rubio did not want transvestites in her new business when she is a transvestite herself! What was she thinking?
In response to any idiot that thinks they can disguise racism and discrimination as Diversity should never be allowed near the freedom flag Gay people have march under for years. Color and Money has no place under the topic of equality and acceptance as all persons are created equal. Shame on someone trying to play that card.
I agree 100% with the comments about Esedeque.....that bar practices discrimination every minute it is open. For some reason, no one seems to object to their policies.
I think all of this is much a do about nothing. At least the owner had the balls to let her wishes for her business be known up front. What's wrong with wanting to have an exclusive club? People do it all the time down there, have a party and know that people are traveling and hanging out together and only invite one or two of the group to the party or better yet see the group at a club having a good time and start handing out invitations to some and ignoring others. And yes before you ask I am an OLD ANGRY QUEEN.
For those who carry the burdem of the inferiority complex please keep it aside!!! The issue here is that Chachita never wrote that in Facebook. It was one of her subordinates who made the cock up citing others peoples wishes. Yes it is everybodys wishes that there should be different bars for differents tastes. So keep the DISCRIMINATION word in your vocabulary.
I totally agree with "Old Angry Queen" ...Tourists come and go and don´t give a shit about what they leave behind e.g. hustlers targeting their next victim, spoiled 20 yo guy receiving regular Moneygram deposits looking for their new boyfriend at Pacos... Do you think that a bar owner must tolerate these kind of people in their premises? Do you think that ¨humbled and discriminated¨ Dominicans and selfish sex driven tourists make a business profitable? Come on wake up and smell the coffee honey !!!
To anonymous at 7:52 PM: The issue here IS DISCRIMINATION. They were trying to keep out one specific group of people. I am not particularly crazy about the idea of exclusive clubs, but the DR is not at the point where it can really afford to do that. And a private party where you invite whoever you want is a different thing. What you do in private is your business, and if you are going to dehumanize a whole group of people because of your prejudices, that's fine; I just feel sorry for you, but it is your right. Just don't bring that garbage into the public sphere, and if you do, expect to be criticized. When I started to go to bars back in the DR (1978, boy am I old!) I thought that since we were all gay we would be united. I was so naive. People were as racist, classist, mysogynistic and homophobic as the straight world, and sometimes even worse. You know how vicious us queens can be. Only later did I realize that hurtful behavior made sense. We are brought up in a world of hate, and getting away from that is extremely difficult and scary. I mean, how do you replace your whole education? It is our reality after all. The power of hegemonical thought is as strong as ever, judging from some of the comments above.
As frequent visitors to Santo Domingo, my friends and I have fantasized about a club where we can just sit, enjoy a drink and talk without having to shout over the loud music. This, in addition to not being hasseled by bugarrones asking for money or transvestites trying to outdo each other at the slightest provocation from another. I guess that to have this type of club, the owner must establish some kind of order or keep some people out. If this is discrimination, so be it!
What is the big uproar??? !!!As a discreet gay person myself,I have the preference to going to a club that is smoke free... free from unbearably loud music and free from outrageously dressed drag queens.and free from unsubtle and aggressive hustlers. Now, this is my personal taste and perogative, and I am sure that many other gay men can relate to that.I do not see it as discrimination, but as a personal preference.I only go to where I most feel comfortable.period.
The key as always is courtesy and respect for one another. I can have fun with anyone as long as those two things are involved. If a person is disrespectful to me or others, it doesn't matter what they wear, how good they look, what their social status is, or what their occupation is, I don't want anything to do with them.
Iknow stereotypes are dangerous but the transvestites in Santo Domingo seem to be rude, crude and frequently ruin the atomsphere of a bar or club.......I don't like discrimination but I can fully understand why an owner would want to eliminate this distraction.
Ouch! That's gotta hurt!
Shady! Some of you kids just ain't right!!
Thank you George. We seem to want to swing this discretionary door only in the faces of certain folks.
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