Watch: Denver Wrangler gay bar Deny Entry To a Drag Queen Telling Him He's Not Transgender

Got this message via Facebook from Jed Rosenberg of the Denver Wrangler demanding I take a picture down which was being used under the "Fair Use"  exception to the copyright law. New images courtesy of the creative geniuses at Transadvocate where this is cross posted.

Fair Use:
Commentary, Criticism, Parody. 

                                                                                           

My name is Jed Rosenberg and I'm an online marketing consultant for the Denver Wrangler. I couldn't find an email for you, so I'm writing you today via Facebook to request the removal of an image that appears on the blog site, http://planetransgender.blogspot.com/, specifically on your authored blog article, "Watch: Denver Wrangler gay bar Deny Entry To a Drag Queen Telling Him He's Not Transgender" (http://planetransgender.blogspot.com/2013/09/watch-denver-wrangler-gay-bar-deny.html). The name of the file is "lugg.png"

The Denver Wrangler did not give you permission to use the image on your blog and violates their legal rights. Could you please take it down? I wanted to ask you first before submitting a report to Blogger.

Also, this image appears in your Facebook images and timeline in a related post on September 3, 2013. Can you please remove that image as well?

As time goes on more people people are speaking up about the Wranglers history. This is a screen grab from the Wranglers website from around 2007 according to Daniel Gonzales who posted it to Boycott the Denver Wrangler facebook page. This image has since been removed from the Denver Wrangler website.

Update 9/12/13The Denver Wrangler has pressured You Tube into sending a privacy statement to Vito, threatening to take the video down. ANYONE who has tried to get youtube to respond to a request to review videos knows what it means to be frustrated.

Vito posted this to the Boycott Denver Wrangler Facebook page:

Vito John Marzano

The Wrangler is shaking! I just got a YouTube Privacy Violation threat. Even though they knew they were being videotaped, even though it was on a public sidewalk, even though I clearly state I'm uploading the video, even though it has been up for days, it seems that as this people become aware the Wrangler continues its systematic policy of retaliation.

Facebook is not letting me post this on saying it is a 'security' risk. Out of the 2100 blogspot articles I have posted on facebook THIS ONE post is a security risk?



Now back to the original story......



Drag artist Vito John Marzano was denied admittance to the Denver Bear bar the Wrangler because according to the manager his license did not match his gender expression. This was in direct violation of the Colorado Department of regulatory agencies (Dora) Public Accommodations Discrimination policy posted below.

This was not the first time the Wrangler has been called out on transphobia. Autumn Sandeen posted about this bar while while trying to find a trans friendly watering hole for a upcoming visit to Denver on Pams House Blend in 2008.



The Wrangler has since removed that discrimination policy from their website but obviously they still adhere to it in thought word and deed.

Vito John Marzano posted this to the facebook group "Boycott the Denver Wrangler":

"The Denver Wrangler has a well documented history of discriminating against people whose perceived gender identity on their ID does not match how they present."

"I did not know this until the night of 8/31, when I went there in Drag after a drag pageant at Hamburger Mary's. I was denied entry for the above stated policy by General Manager Phil and the Assistant Manager Pat."

The Denver Wrangler managed to get Youtube to take the video of them ejecting Vido :(


 

But you can still watch it on Vimeo :)


Wrangler Video from Vito Marzano on Vimeo.

Vito John Marzano continues:

"I pointed out that Colorado has an anti-discrimination law against transphobia, their response is that I am not trans. I asked how would they know the difference and they tried to say the first step for any trans individual is to get a new ID from the state. I then got into a four minute argument with them (all on video) about this discriminatory policy. Their response was very clear: no drag queens, no trans (unless your ID matches your gender identity), and nobody who doesn't adhere to their myopic view of masculinity. I also want to point out that after this incident, I went into three different bars (two of which are straight) with my ID and asked the bartender if they would serve me. They were shocked I was even asking and more shocked that a gay bar on Denver would do this. Then women started telling me how they are discriminated and treated horribly by the Denver Wrangler when they have gone with their friends."

"This entire policy is bullshit. Not only is drag an integral part of LGBT culture, our trans- and genderqueer kin should not be denied entry into an established whose primary function is to take money from the LGBT community. I am also going to point out that that Denver Wrangler has been previously challenged. Their "policy" was taken off their website. It may not be on their website but it is still going strong and it is enforced by the bar staff."

"The LGBT community needs to come together and fight any form of discrimination, even if it comes from our own community. Boycott the Denver Wrangler until they treat all of their patrons equally."

Update 9/5/13 

The Wrangler Retaliates and threatens allies and boyfriends on the Rush Rugby Team. A email forwarded to me by Vito John Marzano.

Colorado Law prohibits discrimination in places of public accommodation based on certain protected classes (characteristics). Examples of prohibited discriminatory practices include: terms of service; denial of full and equal service; intimidation; failure to accommodate; access; conditions; privileges; advertising; and retaliation. A place of public accommodation can be a: bar; restaurant; financial institution; school or educational institution; health club; theater; hospital; museum or zoo; hotel or motel; public club; retail store; medical clinic; public transportation; nursing home; recreational facility or park; and library.

Colorado law prohibits discrimination in places of public accommodation based on actual or perceived sexual orientation. By legal definition, sexual orientation means heterosexuality, homosexuality (lesbian or gay), bisexuality, and transgender status. Transgender status means a gender identity or gender expression that differs from societal expectations based on gender assigned at birth.

Denver Wrangler on Facebook and on Twitter.