“This handsome bar and restaurant draws young people on the prowl”– From the Washington Post’s “Going Out Guide”
FiredUp! Missouri recently produced a post in defense of Tommy’s decision to hold a fundraiser at a gay bar, calling Local 16 a bar just like any other hangout in DC. We beg to differ.
The most glaring and offensive example that shows Local 16 is not just any bar is a regular event held there called “Sunday School.” “Sunday School” is sponsored by the DC Pocket Gays (a name which apparently refers to small gay men) and routinely features risqué activities (like shirtless finger painting) and a decidedly un-“family friendly” atmosphere.
Furthermore, they advertise the event with images and press releases like the ones above that fuse religious imagery with double entendres and sly shots at family values. Does this sound like the type of event that would be on the calendar at a normal bar?
Maybe this is a mainstream bar where Tommy Sowers and his liberal friends hang out, but mainstream America would undoubtedly consider this to be a flaming gay establishment.
It may be the case that Sowers isn’t the first politician to hold a fundraiser at Local 16, but does that mean the Sowers camp just thought it was a normal venue? I doubt it. Anyone who is remotely familiar with DC knows that Local 16’s location puts it squarely within the city’s gay district, and anyone with a head on their shoulders and access to Google can figure out that Local 16 is not just a normal bar.
With all of this baggage, I have to ask: why would Tommy choose to do an event at Local 16? What does this say about his judgment, his values and his campaign team?
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0 responses so far ↓
1 Johnny 5 // Jun 11, 2010 at 5:00 pm
Maybe he honestly doesn’t know the establishment’s leanings – ha ha. But on a more serious note, I’d be curious as to what this place is trying to say with their Catholic imagery. Considering the scandals of the Catholic Church with priests who have engaged in Pedophilia, are they trying to suggest possible unhealthy desires from the folks who frequent their bar? I wouldn’t think they – or Mr. Sowers – would want to be connected to such a message.
2 lbj // Jun 22, 2010 at 5:14 am
Sowers is one sick puppy if he patronizes these kinds of places.
3 Tar Heel // Jun 24, 2010 at 12:22 pm
The author of these posts obviously has no idea what he’s talking about. This comes from a fellow Southerner who’s lived in D.C. for about a year.
Local 16 is definitely NOT a gay bar. Yes, there are plenty of them in D.C., but Local 16 is not one of them. Some gay group may hold an event there sometimes, but, gay bar? No.
Also, the U St. area where Local 16 is located is NOT the gay area of D.C. — that’s Dupont Circle.
Way to go, pal. Seems like you’re more interested in grinding your ax than getting the facts right.
4 KN // Jul 2, 2010 at 12:35 pm
The picture of Sowers with three young boys accompanying this article is in disgustingly poor taste. Say whatever you want about Sowers ‘frequenting’ gay bars, but leave the picture of Sowers and the young boys having a fun, innocent time at a pool off of your website. And please, no one say that my mind when to a dark place…MOPNS knew Exactly what they were doing when they posted this “article” with the picture.
5 Robert // Nov 18, 2010 at 11:27 am
You guys are a bunch of idiots. I live about 3 blocks from Local 16 and can say conclusively that the clientele most frequented by that place is straight folks. Unlike the folks who run this site who appear homophobic and bigoted, bars in DC often open themselves to private events hosted by a range of folks, including gays. In DC and most large cities where folks are forced to get to know each other, straights come to quickly realize that gays are not the demons that folks like the people who run this site make them out to be.
6 James // Mar 26, 2013 at 8:01 pm
This was written with tongue in cheek right? Is this like The Onion articles?
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