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Bill 17-0109 (Committee Print) GLAA Talking points on Bill 17-109 05/31/07 D.C. 'honor bound' to help clubs (Letter, The Washington Times) 05/28/07 Save the Clubs (Metro Weekly) 05/24/07 GLAA urges Mayor to petition Zoning Commission on displaced clubs 02/13/06 GLAA submits testimony on Graham bill for relocation of clubs displaced by ballpark 01/31/06 GLAA advises D.C. Council on gay businesses affected by proposed stadium 11/09/04 |
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GLAA delivers petitions in support of club relocation bill
GAY AND LESBIAN ACTIVISTS ALLIANCE OF WASHINGTON
Fighting for Equal Rights Since 1971
P. O. Box 75265
Washington, D.C. 20013
(202) 667-5139
Thursday, May 31, 2007
D.C. Councilmembers
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Councilmembers:
Enclosed are copies of petitions from D.C. citizens and visitors urging your support for Bill 17-0109, “One-Time Relocation of Licensees Displaced by the Ballpark and Skyland Development Project Amendment Act of 2007.” Most of the signatures were gathered on Black Lesbian and Gay Pride Day on May 27, with the assistance of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club. Also enclosed are pertinent reprints from local publications and talking points in support of the bill.
Mr. Graham’s bill, permitting relocation of ABC-licensed nude dancing establishments displaced by the city, will face its First Reading on June 5. A recent ABC Board ruling effectively nullified a 2001 Council compromise permitting such relocation, so action is now needed.
Because the longstanding gay adult entertainment zone was wiped off the map by the city to make way for the new stadium, we believe the city is honor bound to create a remedy for the displaced licensees. The bill provides a one-time relocation to suitably zoned areas. Some opponents of the bill, including the Washington Times, have claimed that these clubs are associated with crime—a claim contradicted by 35 years of experience with our clubs in Southeast.
Our inclusion of signatures from visitors to the District on the petitions is a reminder that this is a destination city whose visitors provide much-needed tax revenue. Those who disapprove of adult-oriented establishments are free to avoid them; but a situation in which straight-oriented clubs continue to thrive while all gay-oriented ones are eliminated is fundamentally inequitable.
Please vote for the bill, and oppose any amendments that would effectively erase its intended remedy. Thank you for your attention to this.
Sincerely,
Barrett L. Brick
President
