An unfortunate throwback to Civil Rights era

I am having trouble starting this post because what we witnessed was so discouraging and mind boggling and  there is so much to say. Much like the blank note book page from school, I'm letting the blank computer screen be intimidating. Let's just start at the beginning.

Viernes Taco Night in Quincy was accompanied by some lovely guests, tasty beers, and not so tasty margaritas - lesson learned: no need to mess with the recipe you know and love. After filling up on tacos and Funfetti cake, we walked a whopping three minutes to The Sly Fox, the closest watering hole we had yet to try.

Upon walking in, we observed what seemed to be a scuffle between two patrons and the two bartenders. There were many people around, none of whom seemed to be concerned with said scuffle, which was difficult to really understand with music playing loudly. I also was distracted due to being baffled by how small the inside was, based on the size of the whole building, and mildly disappointed by the lack of live music their sign advertised.

After ordering drinks, Jessica said something about having walked into the Civil Rights era, which I thought was a nod to the building's age. I'm not sure when, but at some point, I caught on to what she meant.

We had narrowly missed witnessing the patrons, two women married to each other, pecking (slang for "quick kiss" just in case my grandparents - Hi Doris and John! - read this post) at the bar, as many married and unmarried couples often do. One of the bartenders responded by asking them to stop, which the couple questioned. The bartender said, "We're trying to keep it country in here." and then refused to serve them. The women called the police, and unfortunately we are unaware of the final outcome of this event.

Though rather difficult to restrain, we did not dump out or throw our drinks in the faces of the bartenders or ask the clientele if they even agreed with what the bartenders did. Instead... we eavesdropped (or at least I did!) on the nearby conversations. While outside to make a phone call, Jessica heard the above outlined by the two women customers and while inside with Ben and Amanda, I heard the bartenders defending their actions and confirming that their reason for refusing service was based on the fact that these two women had kissed and not on the fact that they were excessively drunk or rude, which could certainly not be said about all of their patrons. Sad to say, after the customers had stepped out to talk with the police, some of the clientele had voiced their approval of the bartenders' actions.

Now, refusal of service is a sticky issue. Our country has a rather recent and shameful history of refusing service to lots of different people and most notably based on skin color. The Federal Civil Rights Act protects customers based on race, color, religion, or national origin and does not include sexual preference. Most states have drafted additional laws, all similar in that they more or less support businesses in refusing services for legitimate business reasons only, meaning business owners can, for instance, ask customers damaging their property to stop and leave. The other common thread is that businesses must apply their policies equally to all of their customers... not for nothing, but these two weren't the only ones kissing in the bar and no one else was asked to leave for their displays of affection.

Firstly, these bartenders need to watch George Carlin's educational stand-up about how we're all the same. Because no one likes to be ostracized or excluded for their choices and we all share much more than we realize. Secondly, these women have money and - SURPRISE - it works just like everyone else's! Not only were the bartenders bigoted, but that's just bad business sense. Not only does their money work like everyone else's, but so does mine. And it won't be spent there again.

Boycott The Sly Fox.