Bride ban: Gay bar says ‘I don’t’ to bachelorettes

By support
Jun 15, 2009 at 08:12 pm

The Chicago Tribune
June 15, 2009
Bar owner Geno Zaharakis sat one busy evening at the window of his gay nightclub, watching as groups of straight women celebrating bachelorette parties made their way along a strip of bars in Chicago's gay-friendly "Boystown" neighborhood. That's when he made a decision now posted for all to see: "No Bachelorette Parties." "It is throwing it in our face that they can get married and we can't," said Dion Contreras, a 29-year-old Chicago litigation manager, while having a drink with friends. Evan Wolfson, Executive Director of Freedom to Marry, said while he agrees with Zaharakis' stand on marriage equality, he would express it differently. "I'd rather invite people in," Wolfson said. "Celebrate their happiness and ask them to take a stand for us by helping change the law." [Link]