Jan 31
Two Gay Bars in Seattle Were Just Raided By the Police, Fire, and Liquor Board
Emell Adolphus READ TIME: 1 MIN.
Seattle seems to be taking several steps back when it comes to creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people.
Over the weekend, the Stranger reported that a coalition called the Joint Enforcement Team (JET) – comprised of the Seattle Police, Fire, the state Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB), and others – entered two gay bars and handed out citations.
What's more, JET issued citations over things commonly found at any gay bar across the country, including exposed nipples and men in jockstraps.
The Cuff Complex and The Seattle Eagle are the two bars that reportedly received the citations, and law enforcement is allowed to be super-strict when alcohol is being sold on the premises.
JET allegedly hit up 15 other places in order to hand out citations, including four gay clubs, two hookah lounges, one dive bar, and a variety of other establishments, but did not issue citations, per The Stranger.
According to Cuff owner Joey Burgess, JET has been an issue since Pride Month, when a customer was cited for wearing a jockstrap.
"You're allowed to be who you are in Seattle as long as you don't go into a gay bar," said Burgess. "They're not going into the other bars the same way as this."
Read the full recount of what happened here.
