VICTORIA, Texas — A gay couple says they were kicked out of a South Texas country-western bar because of their sexual orientation.
Justin Meyer and James Douglas were kicked out of the Cactus Canyon in Victoria, Texas, on Saturday night for dancing together, and issued a trespassing warning telling them not to return.
The couple says they were told they weren’t allowed to dance together because they were men and for security reasons, reports KAVU-TV.
“He told me they have a policy that states that they don’t allow males to dance with males to country songs. I said just country, and he said yes,” said Douglas.
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A spokesman for Cactus Canyon confirmed that the bar does have a policy prohibiting men from dancing together.
“For many decades it’s acceptable for women to dance together in all kind of clubs. But it’s not acceptable for men to dance together in the type of business that we run,” said Roger Gearhart.
Nicole Hickl from KAVU-TV reports:
Lone Star Q reports that this is the second time in two years that gay customers allege they were kicked out of Cactus Canyon because they’re gay.
In 2011, three women said they were kicked out of the Cactus Canyon by an employee who told them, “This is a country western bar, not a gay bar.” Two of the women reportedly had been holding hands.
The couple is seeking an apology from the bar.
