So this past week, at a friend's suggestion, I attempted to attend Turtle Bay on the east
side of Manhattan. It's a standard bar with cheap drink specials, so I thought I would check it out along with my boy friend and my
best friend.
As I approached the door, the bouncer looked me up and down, looked at my boyfriend then smirked and refused us entry to the bar. When asked why we couldn't go in he said it was because we were wearing white shirts and gave a laugh. We moved out of line, then watched a group of straight guys in white tshirts enter the bar. I was furious and decided not to cause a
scene but to Twitter and facebook about it instead.
Well... Thanks to my loyal fans and followers... Tons of people reposted and voiced their complaints to turtle bay. I received an email from the head of PR from the bar expressing their apologies for the "misconception." I understand she was doing her job and being polite, but she tried to spin it so Turtle Bay came out in a positive light.
Bottom line, I was discriminated against. I will not give my business to Turtle Bay and I urge you to do the same. This womans attempt to brush this aside as a misunderstanding is disingenuous at best if not hurtful and offensive to myself and the gay community of New York City.
If they are serious about remedying the situation, they would immediately remove the bouncer as an employee of the establishment.
Thank you to all my friends, fans and followers who
came together in support. They screwed with the wrong gay.
Been there a FEW times. Never again. The bar has always been full of douches. - Gray
ReplyDeleteI am sure they had no idea who they were messing with! Glad you 'Rocked The Boat'!
ReplyDeleteActually, what if they keep the bouncer... And instead, designate one night of the week as gay Turtle Bay night, so he can endure his prejudices.
ReplyDeleteI am the general manager of the establishment. There is absolutely no chance what so ever that you, or anyone, where turned away because you were gay. I am at the door for several hours per night and we NEVER allow white Tees in. At least ten times per night people come back telling us they just bought a five dollar black, or blue or any other colored tee shirt from walgreens, just so they could get in. I am sorry that the bouncer smirked. Trust me that is a tough job out there and none of us would want it...it sounds like he was unfortunately a bit arrogant and I WILL question him on that. I am not accusing Mr. Adams of lying, but he is 100% mistaken. I am uspet with all the rush to judgement on this and I have no problem calling these allegations ignorant, irresponsible and flat out wrong.
ReplyDeleteI must respond to Thomas. How is it that my boyfriend was wearing a grey Tshirt and was told he couldn't enter and the gentleman behind me clearly wearing a white vneck and jeans was allowed in without question? I thought perhaps I was being sensitive until I witnessed this. I'm not attacking your "establishment" nor am I making false accusations. You weren't present while I went through this. I am saying that I was obviously judged by your employee. Perhaps if you're going to blame it on a dress code then it should be a bit more of a set standard and not depending on the bouncers feelings about the individual.
ReplyDeletePerhaps you should refrain from name calling as I see you have called me "ignorant, irresponsible, and flat out wrong." I think it may be best to leave this in the hands of Kristi.
ReplyDeleteWOW!!! To think that friends and I were going there next weekend. Turtle Bay's actions and reactions will have them out of business before long if this is how they treat ANY customers in this economy. As for me and my friends, we'll spend our money elsewhere. Thanks for the heads-up, Nick.
ReplyDeleteLet's assume Thomas is not lying.
ReplyDeleteHe and his business STILL sound like A-holes, and the place sounds like a total waste of time and money.
LET'S TAKE OUR BUSINESS ELSEWHERE.
Looks like a rather disgusting place, in my opinion. Not worth the cost of a Walgreen's T-shirt I'd say.
ReplyDeleteIn NYC it is Illegal to deny entrance to someone based upon the fact that they are gay, which is why they MUST deny it. Turtle bay is in my neighborhood, I won't be going EVER. BTW-Thomas, it's always best to take the high road and say you're sorry if there was a misunderstanding and offer a drink to Nick. But I guess that's not happening--just bad press for you guys.
ReplyDeleteThere are at least 2 pictures on Turtle Bay NYC's website of guys in white Tees. And it only took me a few minutes in their galleries to find them. So it's a stretch to say that they NEVER allow white Tees.
ReplyDeletewe don't ever allow white tees in the building. There are certain times when it gets hot inside and people take off their over shirts. Our security staff and management tries our best to inform people that they have to put their over shirts back on. The same thing happens with hats and tee shirts. I stand by what I said in that we would NEVER deny entry to someone because they were gay.
ReplyDeleteThe first t-shirt picture I saw was of a guy wearing a thumb ring.
ReplyDeleteIf I were the GM of that place, I'd be more worried about the look of a random guy wearing thumb rings than an underwear model wearing a white v-neck.
Just sayin.
A sports bar with a dress code? That's reason enough not to go.
ReplyDeleteWhat's wrong with white T-shirts? That's the craziest thing I've ever heard in my life!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting about this! I won't be going there again.
ReplyDeleteI will definitely be removed from their mailing list and posting your story to my FB page so my followers can know about it. Places that do not exhibit tolerance of any sort are places that do not deserve to be in business.
ReplyDeleteWay to go, Rick. If you want your loyal fans and followers to close Turtle down, we can do it. We can put all their employees on the f'n street where they belong. They'll never work in this town again, at least not in this economy. Anybody who'd work for a bar that won't let you inside deserves to starve, and their kids too. It's a tough lesson but it's only fair.
ReplyDeleteMy bf takes cases like this on contingency all the time, and he wins bigtime. We have to prove the A-hole bouncer knew you were gay at the door, instead of with the girl, but we know how to do this (follow?). Also we can prove he knew the guys behind you were straight.
I've got a cousin whose gay in DC and he had a case just like yours except he's paraplegic from the neck down. We won the case because we took photos as it was actually happening at the door.
Anyway, keep up the good work. I'm very sorry you had your feelings hurt, but maybe the publicity you're ginning up can help your career. You deserve only the best.
I work only a block away from that bar and I take co-workers out for happy hour all the time... certainly won't be going there. Screw them. I'll let all my co-workers know too.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the dress code, it's been my experience that douchey straight bars love to enforce arbitrary rules in order to seem exclusive. No white T-shirts, no sneakers, no shorts, no jeans: by turning people away who don't conform to these rules, it gives them an element of control. Seeing others getting turned away at the door (especially attractive people like you and your friends) makes the ones who do get in feel special and attractive--it's the only remnant of Studio 54 culture left in New York. (These policies are also in place because straight men tend to have no sense of fashion. The gays know how to pull off white Ts, jeans and sneakers in style!)
ReplyDeleteThese types of lame policies are why I pretty much avoid any remotely popular or trendy straight bars/clubs. Spend your money at a gay-owned establishment instead, or go to Rudy's. At least there you get free hot dogs!
Hmm I run a Wednesday night event at Pieces from 8 to 10 and I think we're going to have a WHITE TEE SHIRT night tomorrow night (7/29)..we've got hot guys, cheap drinks, great crowd, we're raising funds for Braking the Cycle and best of all, no bouncer.. Nick, come and join us! :)
ReplyDeleteJas, reading both your entries, you are no friend of Nick's. Actually in the first installment, you called him Rick (I would say typo, but the character "R" and "N" are not close on a keyboard). Too much booze at Turtle Bay last night?
ReplyDelete