News Release:
Friday, February 2, 2024
SEATTLE – Last weekend, the Washington Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) conducted enforcement actions on several LGBTQIA2S+ bars in Seattle, in collaboration with Seattle Police Department, Seattle Fire Department, and other members of the Joint Enforcement Task Force (JET). Patrons and bar owners reported that law enforcement officers entered several establishments and took photos of patrons. These enforcement actions focused entirely on patron and staff clothing choices.
Leaders within the community rapidly organized and at an LCB meeting this week, expressed their anger and advocated for change. After close consultation with community leaders and allied organizations that serve the community, we are supporting their activism by sending a letter to LCB thanking them for listening to community and for taking initial steps to address their concerns. We are calling on LCB to fully meet community demands by permanently disengaging with the Joint Enforcement Task Force and protecting the privacy of individuals photographed in queer spaces.
ACLU-WA Staff Attorney Adrien Leavitt had this reaction:
“Bars and clubs have historically been safe spaces for the LGBTQIA2s+ community, where people can be themselves and express their identities. Enforcement actions focusing on clothing and other expressions of identity chill expression and association and are reminiscent of a long history of disproportionate law enforcement against establishments that serve LGBTQIA2S+ communities.
In support of the activism of community leaders and allied organizations, we are calling on LCB to build upon their response to community by permanently disengaging with the Joint Enforcement Task Force. A show of force to enforce outdated lewd conduct regulations is harmful to community and counterproductively diminishes the safety that queer spaces provide. Further, we are urging them to protect the privacy of individuals photographed in queer and trans spaces.”
Leaders within the community rapidly organized and at an LCB meeting this week, expressed their anger and advocated for change. After close consultation with community leaders and allied organizations that serve the community, we are supporting their activism by sending a letter to LCB thanking them for listening to community and for taking initial steps to address their concerns. We are calling on LCB to fully meet community demands by permanently disengaging with the Joint Enforcement Task Force and protecting the privacy of individuals photographed in queer spaces.
ACLU-WA Staff Attorney Adrien Leavitt had this reaction:
“Bars and clubs have historically been safe spaces for the LGBTQIA2s+ community, where people can be themselves and express their identities. Enforcement actions focusing on clothing and other expressions of identity chill expression and association and are reminiscent of a long history of disproportionate law enforcement against establishments that serve LGBTQIA2S+ communities.
In support of the activism of community leaders and allied organizations, we are calling on LCB to build upon their response to community by permanently disengaging with the Joint Enforcement Task Force. A show of force to enforce outdated lewd conduct regulations is harmful to community and counterproductively diminishes the safety that queer spaces provide. Further, we are urging them to protect the privacy of individuals photographed in queer and trans spaces.”
