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Troubadur |
Barney''s Beanery Repents
By ROSANNA MAH, The Independent Staff Writer 22.JUN.05
Once a local symbol of homophobia, the near-legendary joint is now gay-friendly
Popular West Hollywood bar Barneys Beanery, which gays have long seen as a national symbol for homophobia, has turned over a new leaf, much to the surprise of the gay community.
On the day of the recent Los Angeles Gay Pride parade, owner David Houston hung a rainbow-colored flag outside his bar and attracted the curiosity of revelers who stopped and stared.
Many wondered if the gesture was a joke. Some called up their City Council members. Others, perhaps for the first time ever, walked in to the bar.
People saw that and thought What the hell is going on? recalled Councilman Jeffrey Prang.
Even Houston, who bought the bar in 1999, admitted business on that day had never been that good.
We got a lot of business, said the 42-year-old entrepreneur. We are typically very slow that day of the parade because no one can get to this area.
A quaint and cozy roadhouse filled with battered license plates and road signs, Barneys Beanery has over a 85-year history played host to countless celebrities and rock n roll legends as Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison.
Quentin Tarantino, who reportedly spent many hours writing Pulp Fiction at the Beanery, was seen enjoying lunch there last Thursday afternoon.
But despite its reputation and popularity with Hollywoods elite, Barneys Beanery has served as an eyesore and bitter reminder to the gay and lesbian community which still remembers the original owners homophobic legacy, said Prang.
One thing that used to trouble people was that in the middle of West Hollywood was a homophobic institution, recalled Prang. For many years, it stuck like a spritzer in the middle of town.
It began on Feb. 7, 1970, when some 100 activists led by Morris Kight protested the display of a sign posted over the bar which misspelled Fagots Stay Out.
The Rev. Troy Perry, founder of the Metropolitan Church who co-organized the demonstration, remembered a Life magazine story where then-owner Barney Anthony told a reporter that gays ought to be all murdered.
For three days, we took over the seats in the bar and just ordered coffee so we wont be arrested for vagrancy, but others didnt order, Perry said.
According to Perry, some protesters were roughed up by sheriff deputies, angering more activists who vowed to continue the boycott for as long as they lived.
It just all made us more angry with the restaurant and we said we would keep this going for as long as possible.
As early as the 1940s, the sign had been placed in the celebrity hangout. But when another owner, Irwin Held, took over, he posted more signs around the bar and also engraved matchbooks with the anti-gay slogan.
And for over 34 years, Perry has made good on a promise never to step foot into the bar until its owners apologized.
The long-awaited apology finally came several weeks ago from Houston, who had bought the bar from Held.
After watching a taped video of the 1970 demonstration, Houston said he quickly apologized to Perry and explained he could not understand why the previous owners had put up the offensive sign which angered the gay community.
This whole idea of discriminating against anybody for any reason is just so alien to me. It doesnt make good business, it doesnt make good sense morally, he said.
Houston, also co-owner of Qs Billiards in West Los Angeles and Pasadena, also pledged that no gays and lesbians will be denied access in his bars.
No one should be excluded because they are homosexual, said Houston. That kind of discrimination, I think, is so antiquated and over with especially in Los Angeles it just has no place here anymore.
For over six months, Houston has hosted monthly lunches for disadvantaged gay youth in efforts to reach out to the gay and lesbian community. He plans to co-sponsor a Sept. 25 antique car show, together with Great Autos of Yesteryear, a Long Beach-based gay and lesbian car club. All event proceeds will go to the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center, West Hollywood Library and Petersen Automotive Museum.
I was blown away, recalls Perry. I thought that was just incredible that they hadnt tooted their own horn ... or said anything to anybody. I told him that as far as I was concerned, [the past] is over.
For the first time, Perry had lunch at Barneys and ordered a bowl of chili and bottle of ODouls. He adds that he is grateful to Houston for mending the rift that has existed for far too long.
I am thankful to God that Ive lived to see this after all these years, he said.