A “funeral” was held for Redfield’s Tavern over the weekend to commemorate the end of the restaurant (for the gay community at least).
The Dallas Morning News published a story yesterday confirming the owners’ homophobic remarks that were secretly recorded by a former employee. The backlash to the recording was swift — the gays boycotted, the staff quit en masse, and the business collapsed.
There’s a shit-storm brewing in the gayborhood.
I recently heard a recording that is allegedly of two of the Redfield’s Tavern owners discussing how they really feel about their gay clientele and staff. The tape confirms rumors that have already been swirling about the owners being anti-LGBT — which I refused to believe since this place is basically the neighborhood’s busiest gay bar of the moment.
Why this matters: With most of the largest gay bars still closed, Redfield’s has become the center of many people’s social lives — like Cheers or the coffeeshop on Friends. It’s not uncommon to see some regulars there 3 to 4 times a week with the same groups of close friends. If you’re spending a significant amount of your free time and disposable income at an establishment, it’s devastating to hear that the owners don’t value your business or respect you as a person. (And also offensive, because you’re keeping their lights on).
The tape is worse than I thought. The alleged owners describe the large gay clientele as a “problem” and say several times that they are alarmed that the venue is becoming a gay bar. They also complain about the newly hired gay men, and suggest replacing them with women.
This bigoted behavior won’t be tolerated — this venue is in a predominately LGBT neighborhood and after 9pm (and weekends) Redfield’s was almost entirely gay. We are not a problem, but rather the people keeping the place afloat.
I am disgusted because just last night we were having a conversation with friends, and we went on at length about how much we love Redfield’s. But no longer –:I’m not giving another pink dollar to owners who casually discuss firing their staff just because of who they choose to love.
Good luck to them. But I am going to spend my money at places that support our community and don’t view us as a problem. 💅
We are on the Redfield’s Tavern patio when lights go out. After standing around for a couple of minutes, a waiter comes and tells us that a balloon got stuck in the powerlines outside, caught fire, and ended up blowing up the transformer in front of the restaurant.
“It’s on fire,” she says. “Hopefully it doesn’t mess up anyone’s car…”
I parked in front of the restaurant!
So, I run outside just in time to see flaming pieces of balloon on top of the car next to mine.
A burning item on a car outside of Redfield’s Tavern in Dallas.
I move my car as the bouncer extinguishes the flames with water from the bar.
Next time, I’ll just park on the side of the street like I normally do. 🏎️
Redfield’s Tavern is one of my few favorite spots, conveniently located right by the gayborhood in Dallas’ Medical District.
With most of the bars on The Strip still closed, the queens have coopted this supposedly-straight venue.