Bar Crashers Say
Straight Venue Shut Them Out

An attempt to crash a straight bar in Houston on Friday night resulted in charges of discrimination , with would-be patrons saying the venue denied them entrance because they are gay.

Some 100 LGBT people arrived at the popular Union Bar in Midtown around 10 p.m. All were participants in a Guerilla Gay Bar event, a friendly invasion of a local straight bar designed to break down social barriers based on sexual orientation.

Unlike other Guerrilla Gay Bar events across the country, however, in which participants descend on bars by surprise, organizers of the Houston event told Union Bar about their plans in advance. Despite assurances they would be welcomed, they say they faced long lines and in many cases rejection at the door.

"We were made to stand in line, and the line grew and grew," Kris Banks of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus told KHOU-TV .

According to the bar owner, his venue simply could not accommodate the crowd, which exceeded the reservation of 50 people. Union Bar can hold 117 guests, and private parties also were scheduled at the same time. The owner pledged to reach out to the local gay community and explain the situation on Monday.

Civil rights advocates said the incident highlights why Houston needs a law to protect sexual orientation and gender identity in public accommodations.