Orange County gay event shut down amid claims of discrimination
A weekly gay bowling event in Orange County, Los Angeles, has been closed down.
Police said it was due to venue Lucky Strike allowing live entertainment and outside promotions without a permit.
However, the organisers of Spin Tuesdays have claimed they were targeted because the event is gay-themed.
“Everyone’s feeling like the gay community is not welcome here,” said Zach Moos, 34, one of the event’s promoters and DJs.
He argued that a gay night at the bowling alley was shut down while other nights with live entertainment were left alone.
According to police, an officer on patrol in late January noticed the over-capacity crowd of 500 people and a line snaking outside.
It was claimed the event was operating as a nightclub with hired promoters and furniture pushed out of the way to make a dance floor.
Orange County police sergeant Fred Lopez said the crackdown had nothing to do with the gay theme.
“When you’re expecting 30 or 40 people to be in an establishment and there’s 500 people that are drinking that you’re not expecting, then you have to pull officers from another area,” he said. “It’s a safety issue.”
Over the last few weeks, police met several times with the bowling alley’s managers and attorneys and sent them a letter warning that they need a permit for live entertainment, Lopez said, but Lucky Strike Lanes has not secured a permit.
