Atlanta’s longtime lesbian bar, My Sister’s Room, was celebrating its 30th anniversary month when an event on August 15 ended with co-owner Jen-Chase Daniels being arrested.
That night, the bar hosted its 90s vs. Y2K Burlesque Drag Show, featuring drag and burlesque performances, music and crowd participation. Later in the evening the event took an unexpected twist as police responded to a noise complaint in the area.
The complaint came after Daniels had already worked with local businesses and police to better understand Atlanta’s noise ordinance. Earlier in August, she organized a meeting about noise concerns along Crescent Avenue, which included establishing the distance used to determine whether businesses were following the city’s rules.
Daniels disputed that her bar was responsible for the noise and said she had video showing sound coming from elsewhere in the area. The situation escalated when officers requested her identification. According to the police report, Daniels refused to provide ID after being asked multiple times and was warned she could be arrested for obstruction.
Daniels said she questioned the request because she believed the bar had not violated the ordinance and offered to show the officers her video. She was then arrested.
Video shared by My Sister’s Room shows officers placing Daniels in handcuffs as she repeatedly tells those watching that the bar had done nothing wrong.
After getting arrest, Daniels said she was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital because she has an implanted heart monitor. She was later transferred to jail and eventually released on bail with help from a friend.
The arrest has since drawn attention online and questions about how Atlanta’s noise ordinance is being enforced. My Sister’s Room has continued its 30th anniversary celebrations, with Daniels maintaining that the bar intends to follow city regulations while continuing to serve Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ community.
Photos courtesy of social media
