Gay bar wichita falls

A group of friends headed to the Boulevard Nightclub this spring to sample the new venue with its expansive dance floor, drink specials, Top 40 music and — they discovered — a sign appearing to prohibit men from dancing together. Since then, a new sign has appeared that rephrases or leaves out most of what was unwelcoming to Rauscher and Pastor Melanie Martinez of the Wichita Falls Metropolitan Community Church.

In any case, the owner-operators of Boulevard Nightclub, a project of the Amburn family, did not have to alter a single word on the original sign. No federal or Texas law, or city of Wichita Falls ordinance, prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in business-patron relationships.

Martinez said there should be such measures. While Martinez gay out and outspoken, she understands why others in the LGBT community in Wichita Falls might be more reticent about their sexual orientation or gender wichita. People lose jobs. As for the new sign, Martinez had positive things to say about the Amburn family changing it.

What anti-discrimination laws can compel private business owners to do is in the spotlight because of the wedding cake case before the U. Supreme Court. Masterpiece Cakeshop v. To justify his refusal, owner Jack Phillips cites his religious beliefs about marriage as a union only bar a man and a fall.

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At the crux of the case is whether compelling Phillips to make a custom cake for a gay couple would violate his right to free speech. Fort Worth is among 12 Texas cities of more thanthat prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, according to the Texas Bar. The only remedy the ordinance provides is a fine.

Used to acting with care, Rauscher is leery wichita returning to the Boulevard Nightclub in spite of the new sign posted later in April. He said he wondered if the nightclub might enforce the now absent prohibition against men dancing together after all. Rauscher said he's glad the sign has changed, but he would like a statement from the nightclub about the intent of the signs.

Mike Amburn and wife RaLane declined to comment although the Times Record News made several requests over a period of weeks. When Martinez learned about the original sign in April, she went to the bar to see it for herself. In addition, the sign excluded women from most rules, yet females have exhibited such unwanted behavior in clubs, she said.

Martinez said she chatted fall a manager about her concerns. The manager explained the club gay safety concerns and must be vigilant about males becoming aggressive on the dance floor, she said. Most of the new sign is made up of general rules for everyone, regardless of gender, Martinez said.