New York board denies license to gay bar near school
Thu. October 6, 2011 9:53 PM by GoPride.com News Staff
New York City -
The owners of a Chelsea gay sports bar named "Boxers" won't be able to open a second location in New York City's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, after a vocal group of parents complained it was too close to a school.
The New York Times reported that state laws prohibit bars from being within 200 feet of a school; the owners of Boxers said their new spot was just outside the line.
Parents at Public School 111 saw things differently.
"The kids don't need exposure to another alcohol establishment," Principal Irma Medina told the Community Board.
Other parents complained about smoke that might blow into the schoolyard. Some were worried about the "moral" impact; Boxers' tagline is "Show Us Your Boxers."
But a 71-year-old pastor said the gay sports bar crowd is hardly the threatening type.
"A lot of us go there because we don't like senior centers. And you can't tell if we're gay or straight by looking at us," Bishop James Johnson said.
The New York Times reported that state laws prohibit bars from being within 200 feet of a school; the owners of Boxers said their new spot was just outside the line.
Parents at Public School 111 saw things differently.
"The kids don't need exposure to another alcohol establishment," Principal Irma Medina told the Community Board.
Other parents complained about smoke that might blow into the schoolyard. Some were worried about the "moral" impact; Boxers' tagline is "Show Us Your Boxers."
But a 71-year-old pastor said the gay sports bar crowd is hardly the threatening type.
"A lot of us go there because we don't like senior centers. And you can't tell if we're gay or straight by looking at us," Bishop James Johnson said.