A gay bar in the Chicago suburbs has instituted a new policy that requires all patrons to possess identification that matches their gender presentation. This establishment caters to transgender people on certain evenings and has established this new rule in reaction to supposed cross-dressing prostitutes posting ads on craigslist and mentioning this particular bar.
In other words, if you’re a part time t-girl, you are now required to have valid identification for your female image.
This is an absolutely ridiculous policy, and one that is hopefully eliminated soon. For many crossdressers, this is just an occasional thing and going out in drag is even less frequent. Some transvestites do in fact go out and acquire a second ID to match their feminine side but the majority simply do not, for a number of reasons.
While I have never gone to this bar, one of my good friends goes with her wife and I’m pretty sure that she does not have a picture ID that goes with her female self. Imagine spending the time and energy to get dressed and mustering up the courage to leave the house to have a night out only to be denied entrance because all you have is a driver’s license with your male picture and name on it.
Hunter’s (the name of the bar) new rule is just unfair on so many levels, and as such may not last very long. For starters, they will probably lose business because of this new protocol. Furthermore, the ALCU of Illinois has gone on record saying that this policy violates the Illinois Human Rights Act.
People who transition cite acquiring their new ID matching their gender identity as a momentous milestone. However, most crossdressers spend only a fraction of their time en femme and keep it a secret from most if not all of their acquaintances.
Would I like to get an ID for “Jessica”? Absolutely, I think it would be so much fun. Will I do it? Probably not, it’s just not feasible right now. And for the time being, this will prevent me from having a fun night in what is supposed to be a safe haven and enjoyable venue for transgendered people.
Loading ...
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
You’re right, that is obsoletely ridiculous. It’s so dumb, it’s /facepalm worthy.
Yea, it is a shame too, because it’s difficult enough for trans people to work up the nerve to go out sometimes. I have a feeling that this rule will be reversed very soon.
I agree, it’s a silly rule, and it sounds like the bar management didn’t think it through clearly. In an attempt to solve one problem, they created a bigger one, kind of like the old woman who swallowed the spider to catch the fly.
In the annals of human history, there are not too many more ingnorant decisions made than this. Loss of business that will likely never return, total embarassment for the many TG’s and for what? the real issue will likely not be challenged significantly. Can you say fake ID? Not addressing the safety issue at all. The poor TG’s will have to find new venues- some by trail and error. The problem lies with error. Safety? Whos? I don’t think so.
They are going to lose business and get lots of bad publicity.
I think the place should be boycotted by the whole LGBT community until this policy is discontinued.
This is so discriminatory. The problem they have is with some Prostitutes, yet they are not dealing with that, they are trying to keep out all transgendered people on the assumption that we must all be prostitutes.
What “educational shows” do they have on the bar’s TV? Jerry Springer? DR. Phil? Fox news?
We need to send the message to everyone to stop sexualizing us!!!!!
It is discriminatory and truly makes no sense in what they say they are trying to accomplish. Maybe the owner watched one too many Jerry Springer episodes, like you say.
Agreed. In addition, maybe Illinois ought to issue alternative photos for state legislature members who switch faces when they buy/sell votes & senate seats.
LOL, good one
I’m glad you brought this to our attention. As much as I want to change my id to match, California state law says I cannot until I have a physician state I have had the appropriate surgery. IF, I do that, it will be many years from now…so in the mean time, when in Chicago, I’ll visit other more T-friendly places than Hunter’s. Thanks for the heads up!
No problem, I am happy to report on things that affect us directly.
isnt that a violation of civil rights? race, ethnicity, “sex” how can they say get a new id for 1 group but not another based on gender? first of all most tg dont tell someone on a first date out of fear of being hurt so these dipsticks want to force people to “match” their id’s and some guy asks me out and we get to the door where the person asks for my id (which says f per their rule) my “date” sees this isnt that putting me “us”
@ more risk if it gets to a point where i want the relationship to go to the next step? (im not sure whos seen a girl like me the Gwen Araujo story or boys dont cry) but in both movies (which are true) the victims
Brandon & Gwen were both portrayed as sexual deviants preying on individuals that “snapped” out of sheer suprise of the victims gender!
while neither tried to lie (as we are who we are and we tell who WE want
WHEN were ready) and were not lying were protecting ourselves not to mention some of us (as i cant speak for everybody) feel (i know) that we were born to the wrong body, but a “straight” man isnt going to understand that yet they (this bar) want to make us show a different id so if they are phsyco’s they can have proof “we” were trying to
“fool “them? also somebody should inform these fools that some gay men that dress like men prostitute themselves sometimes too….
ok im rambling yet again so thats all….
But once again Jessica you gave me something to think (and get mad)
about lol… but thinking is good
Yes, this is a total rights violation and it’s funny as several people have brought up the Halloween scenario. If they have customers coming in with werewolf, witch and superhero costumes are they going to requiring matching IDs? According to their policy they must, lol.
I’m also sick of being portrayed as a deviant.
Glad this post got you thinking and thanks for the comment TGBarbie
I was at hunters on saturday, I had no problems going in with my normal ID. I heard about this somewhere else to. I don’t know where it got started, but they didn’t give me any problems at all.
The Trib reported on this Monday, so it may be a brand new policy as of this week. If you happen to get in to Hunter’s again or if you hear anything new about the rule please let me know