Situation at the Freezone?

[annie]

We've just received a report of a heavy-handed restroom incident at the Freezone. Although there's no reason to doubt that the report is true and accurate, it runs contrary to the assurances we were given by management during DLV.

I know we have some Freezone fans reading this forum. Does anyone have any further light they can shine on this, or any clue as to what's going on there?

Thanks.

[External Poster]

This posting is from: Redwolf
----------

Are we talkibng about Useing the lady's rest room and maybe staying in
there to long? Plus having security coming in?

----------
(This posting was entered by Redwolf, an external user of MyDLV.)

[annie]

> Are we talkibng about Useing the lady's rest room and maybe
> staying in there to long? Plus having security coming in?

I don't know about staying in too long but the report of the incident was pretty much the same as has been reported over the years regarding the use of the restroom, period.

[External Poster]

This posting is from: Vera Delmar
----------

Is there any way someone local can go over and talk to the management
when they get the opportunity?

----------
(This posting was entered by Vera Delmar, an external user of MyDLV.)

[External Poster]

This posting is from: Redwolf
----------

I'm sorry I live in Vegas, But have no idea of what we are talking
about?

----------
(This posting was entered by Redwolf, an external user of MyDLV.)

[bobbiemlv]

Over the years there has been issues at the Free Zone retaining to Transsexuals using the ladies room. Evidently, even with the gender identity laws that were passed in 2011 protecting our right to use the ladies room, they are finding other reasons to try to exclude us.

[External Poster]

This posting is from: Kandi Dolfen
----------

I plan to visit LV at the end of this month.

I can stop by Freezone to check out the situation.

Please let me know what you want and any precautions I need to take.
best wishes,

kandi

----------
(This posting was entered by Kandi Dolfen, an external user of MyDLV.)

[External Poster]

This posting is from: dlvdisc
----------

Precautions ----Just in case- Make sure you relieve yourself before
going there.

----------
(This posting was entered by Nora, an external user of MyDLV.)

[annie]

> I'm sorry I live in Vegas, But have no idea of what we are
> talking about?

Here's the story and the chain of events which led up to this.

The Freezone is an "alternative" bar located on Naples between Paradise and Swenson. It has a mixed G/L clientele which leans to the "L" side. They have had on and off food service over the years, mostly off in the last decade. They've had long-running drag shows, the most notable of which was Sasha Scarlett, who defected to the eponymous Sasha's across the street in 2002 or so.

The Freezone was one of the favorite bars of DLVers from the very early days until 2006.

Then we started receiving occasional but consistent reports of restroom hassles. Some of these were heavy-handed such as ejection, threat of arrest, etc. We yellow-lighted Freezone on our Big List and later red-lighted it.

Fast-forward to DLV 2013. A couple mentioned that they were going to the Freezone and I asked them to give us a good first-hand assessment of the current restroom situation. They spoke to the manager on duty who said there were no restrictions on restroom usage. They mentioned that DLV was having a bar crawl the next night and the manager encouraged them to tell the group to include the Freezone.

We did just that, and were warmly personally welcomed by the manager. We then green-lighted the Freezone on the Big List.

Earlier this week one of our volunteers received a report of an incident similar to what was reported from 2006 until recently.

That's the "War And Peace" version of the story.

[annie]

> Please let me know what you want

Yes, if you don't mind stopping in, please do.

None of us remember the manager's name, the one who warmly welcomed us, but he was Caucasian, medium height, dark hair, with kind of a roundish face and he was very personable.

The manager/bouncer/goon/whatever of this weeks incident was "a skinhead type" according to the report.

> and any precautions I need to take.

As Nora said, be careful if you need to take a bio break.

If you do make contact, please try to get the name of anyone who says for the record what the policy is. Even a business card if possible.

All of us truly thank you if you're able to do this.