A group of gay bar owners and LGBTQ+ advocates recently released a joint statement criticizing the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Control Board (LCB). This comes just days after the LCB conducted several unexpected raids on several historic gay bars in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.
In late January, the LCB announced that it was joining forces with the Seattle Joint Enforcement Team (JET). Immediately following this collaboration, at least four famous historic gay bars were surprised by midnight raids. Allegedly, multiple JET officers wielding flashlights entered the venues, frightening people away. They found at least one bartender with an exposed nipple, as well as several patrons wearing jockstraps and cited them for violating the LCB’s “lewd conduct” rule. The JET agents also reportedly photographed several offending individuals without their consent.
Washington State’s “lewd conduct” law applies specifically to premises serving liquor and restricts certain body parts from being exposed by either staff or patrons. It should be noted that the state has almost no other laws regarding public nudity.
A coalition of advocates for the raided bars, including several business owners, the founder of the It Gets Better Project, and more, released a statement on January 29 urging others to attend an LCB meeting to discuss altering the lewd conduct law.
The statement reads, “Our coalition consists of establishments that provide safe spaces for diverse and marginalized communities to express themselves through love, music, dance, and art. The recent raids have disrupted these operations and undermined trust and security within our community.” It goes on to recall how police raids on LGBTQ+ businesses have historically been used to persecute marginalized communities and deprive them of safe spaces. In fact, one can’t help but to draw ties to recent oppressive police raids on queer nightclubs in Moscow.
The outcry over these raids reached the ears of the LCB, who were quick to respond. They expressed their dismay at the alarm their actions caused the LGBTQ+ community. They also announced that they would suspend enforcement of the lewd conduct rule until they could review it and, if needed, vote to alter its terms. Seattle mayor Bruce Harrell released a statement on the situation, saying, “Under my administration, we will not target people or communities based on their sexuality. We understand concerns raised by the community based on a perception of violating this principle.”
