Male identity, female ID: Man in transition barred from club
by Hannah Dame
07-13-2007

Lucas had hoped for a fun night at the club, but as it turned out, JJ’s Clubhouse & Bar wasn’t going to be his destination.

Lucas, a transmale who preferred not to give his last name, was turned away from the door at JJ’s when he tried to enter in early 2007.

“[The doorman’s] entire demeanor changed once he saw my ID,” Lucas said. Because Lucas has not completed his surgery process, the state still requires he lists his gender as female. However, he identifies as a gay male.

At the time Lucas didn’t ask about the bar’s ID policy, but research turned up similar incidents at JJ’s. Lucas said he found JJ’s was not safe for transgender individuals, and those who visit the bar were going to be harassed. One of his friends, a transfemale, was addressed by the doorman as ‘sir’ when she was turned away in 2004.

According to Lucas, transgender individuals are only allowed into JJ’s four times a year: during PrideFest, July 4, Halloween and New Year’s Eve.

Lucas expressed concern that those discriminated against at JJ’s did not feel safe speaking up. However, several sites online have recorded evidence of harassment

An online guide for transgender St. Louis residents, TGToday.com, strongly advises readers against going to JJ’s, saying that transgender individuals will be harassed and “the Bears here [at JJ’s] are a real disappointment to the GLBT.” Both TGToday.com and Lucas noted the discriminatory policy of allowing Lady Dawn, a local transgender dominatrix, into the bar.

As the Vital VOICE went to press, TGToday.com writers had not responded to efforts to contact them.

Rob Thurman said he experienced discrimination when he was harassed at JJ’s for his dress in 2004. Thurman, who had been at an AIDS fundraiser costume ball earlier that night, entered the bar in costume, which included a large skirt and corset.

After entering, Thurman said he was “manhandled” by some patrons, and the situation was clearly escalating to be an issue. He was asked to leave shortly after.

While not transgender, Thurman expressed concern in his blog after the incident about the way JJ’s defined drag and about being made to feel unsafe in what he viewed as an openly gay space.

Jeff Plunk, co-owner of JJ’s, said the ID policy is not his but Missouri’s. The state says a person’s ID picture must match their appearance, according to Plunk. The bar risks punishment if it is raided by authorities looking for underage patrons.

“If their driver’s license said male, the doorman should have used the pronoun sir,” Plunk said. According to him, if other bars do allow transgender individuals in then they are breaking the law.

While JJ’s does not have a gender rule, it does have a dress rule.

“There is no cross-dressing in my bar,” Plunk said. Cross-dressing is among several other fetishes not allowed in the bar. If the state views transgender people as cross-dressing, then Plunk said he has to.

Concerning Lady Dawn, Plunk said he has not himself checked Lady Dawn’s ID. According to him, the local leather clubs requested she be allowed entrance, as she was considered an honorary member. To the best of his knowledge, Lady Dawn was going through the surgery process when the club opened, but Plunk said he isn’t sure.

Lucas found JJ’s defense of its policy frustrating. According to Lucas, both his and his friend’s ID pictures match their appearances.

Thurman, who was harassed in 2004, said he thinks there’s resistance in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community to having a different appearance.

“It can be a hat,” he said. When Thurman was at JJ’s several weeks ago, another patron called him ‘brave’ for wearing a fedora.

According to Thurman, the GLBT community at large doesn’t like to deal with transgender individuals, leaving them to “just sort of exist.” Because drag has for so long been seen as entertainment, people don’t understand the transformation aspect for transgender individuals.

“It’s about defining yourself in your personal life,” Thurman said.

People may wonder why Lucas bothers, but he said that JJ’s policy isn’t right. According to him, JJ’s doesn’t support the community. JJ’s participates in Pride each year, yet they turn away individuals at their door.

After Lucas found out about JJ’s ID policy, a friend suggested he sue them for discrimination. However, Lucas said that he’s not interested in money.

“I would rather the GLBT community know than sue them.”

You can e-mail Hannah Dame at H_Dame@yahoo.com.

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