Kameny wants Council to relocate gay clubs
Leaders say District is cracking down on nightlife
By JOE CREA
Friday, December 31, 2004
In response to the slated displacement of six gay clubs in southeast Washington, local gay activist Frank Kameny plans to write a letter to the D.C. Council telling them they have a “moral obligation” to relocate the gay establishments that are scheduled to be put out of business to make room for the city’s new baseball stadium.
Kameny argues that the D.C. Council “exiled” gay clubs to the O Street SE area of Washington during the 1970s and are now obliged to relocate the businesses, possibly at the site of the recently demolished Washington Convention Center, 900 Ninth St. NW.
“They exiled us there [O Street] in an out of sight, out of mind philosophy and they have a moral obligation, regardless of whatever zoning officials say, to relocate the businesses,” said the longtime gay-rights activist who said he will send his letter to the Council next week.
The likely displacement of the O Street gay clubs, Ziegfeld’s and Secrets, the Follies Theater, the Glorious Health & Amusements, Club Bath and Heat, which opened this week and was previously named La Cage Aux Follies Bar & Nightclub, represents an extreme example of what some say is a crackdown by the District Council and others on D.C. nightlife.
Rest of article here:
http://www.washblade.com/2004/12-31/...ews/kamaey.cfm
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