Atlanta night club Don Pollo denies entrance to transgender woman saying 'because we can'

On Friday November 8th at about 3:30am Alissah Brooks was illegally denied public accommodations access by employees of Don Pollo's who refused her entrance because of her gender identity. Don Pollo's facebook page makes no mention of the establishment being a members only nightclub.

A male employee appears and asks, “What’s the problem?” One of Brooks’ friends explained, “The problem was she’s a transgender and [the bouncer] denied her entry.” Without skipping a beat the employee asks, “What’s wrong with that?



Here's what's wrong with that...it's against city code as of July 19th 2013 to deny public accommodations on the basis of gender identity. Marco Polo owners and staff really need to become better informed and hopefully less bigoted.

http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=10376

Too small to read manager Luis Munoz? You can click the link or read it here....especially for you...



Sec. 94-68. Unlawful discrimination.

(a)
Except as is exempted in subsection (b) of this section, it shall be unlawful for any person, whether acting for himself/herself or another, being the owner, lessee, proprietor, manager, superintendent, agent or employee of a public accommodation, to engage in or cause another to engage in any of the following prohibited acts, or to allow a subordinate employee of the public accommodation to engage in any of the following prohibited acts, in any public accommodation in the legal limits of the City of Atlanta:
(1)
Denial, refusal, rejection, or granting or any privilege, service, goods, merchandise, advantage, facility, membership, commodity or accommodation because of an individual's, or the perception of an individual's, race, color, creed, religion, sex, domestic relationship status, parental status, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, age, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide by a blind, deaf or otherwise physically disabled person.

Serbian X Factor Judge Жељко Јоксимовић votes alone against transgender contestant Fifi calling her a "Tranny"

Serbian X Factor judge Željko Joksimović pronounced " [ʒěːʎko jôksimoʋitɕ"] acknowledged he liked Fifi's performance but couldn't vote for a 'tranny'.

Ok, so what happened? Buzz Feed's lazaralazara interpreted the video of her appearance embedded below:

After Fifi’s introduction, judge Kristina Kovač checked with her in which gender she wants to be addressed to and Fifi said – „female“. This is when Željko Joksimović interrupted the conversation with the first transphobic and discriminatory remark:
„Wait wait, sorry, I don’t understand something here. Fifi, in your application it says Filip. How can we then address to you as a female?!“
„Well, I was born as a male and I identify as a female, I am transgender“
„You are a tranny (?). Crazy.“ said Joksimović.

What followed doesn't need much translation. It's obvious by FiFi's eyes narrowing she is being degraded even more by Joksimović who demands that 'both of him' sing another song.

Fifi brings the house down with a rendition from her heart of 'words don't bring me down'. delivering a love smack down to Željko Joksimović.

Bravo Fifi!





Serbia has laws against hate speech based on a persons sexual orientation.

Trans Serbia's Press release regarding discriminatory speech pop singer Zeljko Joksimovic judge X Factor Adria

Gayten LGBT Center to promote LGBT rights and Labrys, lesbian human rights , strongly condemns last night's behavior one of the judges on the show X Factor Adria, which is broadcast on the television channel Pink. reality show in a competition which aired 5 November, the pop singer Zeljko Joksimovic showed a basic lack of respect for competitors who identifies as transgender . Joksimovic is in direct communication with Philip Janevski - Fifi (22) , showed disrespect first, then disbelief and disgust and eventually discredit her as a competitor on the basis of her gender identity, rather than on her singing abilities (Joksimovic at one point and says: "This is not like me ... and well sing"). Zeljko Joksimovic as a public figure has the responsibility for what is pronounced in a public space. Equally important, he shows a basic ignorance of the law on gender expression, and we believe that it violates the Law Against Discrimination , according to a person on the basis of her personal property, not on the basis of her vocal ability. Thus, Zeljko Joksimovic contribute even more difficult position trans people in Serbia who are exposed to daily violence and discrimination at multiple levels. By April 2013th has recorded 78 cases of murders of trans people in the world, according to the report Trans Murder Monitoring , organization Transgender Europe (upon TGEU), published to mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia and the vicious murder of Darko Vujanovic in June this year rapid and effective response of the Commissioner for Equality and reaction RBA, and a public apology pop singer Zeljko Joksimovic and TV Pink. Belgrade, 6 November 2013th

X Factor Serbia producers didn't think Жељко Јоксимовић's comments were hate speech. Quite the opposite it seems that they will turn a blind eye to transphobic hate speech on their show if it builds a audience.  X Factor producers statement:

Contestant Philip Janevski Fifi is auditioning for Singing Shows program "X Factor" a second round of competition thanks to his voice and stage performance. The jury "X Factor": Zeljko Joksimovic, Kristina Kovac, Emina Jahović and Kiki Lesendrić are entitled to their own opinion about the registered competitors.

Produced by "X Factor" believes that no member of the jury has not used the hate speech in a fit athlete Philip Janevski, and on the further marketing of the aforementioned athletes will decide the audience.