Man wearing makeup says bar denied him entry because 'men need to dress like men'
A Texas man says he was all glammed up with no place to go after a bar refused him entry because he was wearing makeup and false eyelashes.
As local paper theCorpus Christi Caller-Times reports, Bobby Rodriguez was planning to meet friends at Whiskey River, a country-western-themed nightclub in Corpus Christi, Texas, last Wednesday night but claims the “homophobic security guard” barred him. Rodriguez, who later recounted his story in a Facebook post, said the bouncer cited his makeup as grounds for refusal.
The 21-year-old told the newspaper that the security guard said his appearance violated club policy.
“His words were and, I quote, ‘unfortunately, you cannot enter because you are wearing makeup, and we have a rule here that says men need to dress like men,'” Rodriguez said. “I literally had to walk back to my car and rip my false lashes off and wipe off my lipstick.”
“I’m a dude,” he added in a separate interview with BuzzFeed News. “I know I’m a dude. I just like to put on makeup. You will not catch me out and about without makeup.”
In fact, Rodriguez says he was admitted into that very club — by a different doorperson — while wearing makeup just one week prior to this incident.
“I was there for three hours, and [the club] had no problem with it,” he told BuzzFeed News.
“I wear makeup to every bar, and no bar has ever had a problem with me,” he added. “If you didn’t want a dude wearing makeup, why not address it the first time?”
Whiskey River owner Angela Blohm dismissed Rodriguez’s account in comments to the Caller-Times, chalking it up as “just a bunch of frivolous baloney” and questioning whether the conversation with the doorman occurred as reported. While she acknowledged that the club had a “gender-appropriate” dress code, she could not confirm if signs were posted to notify the public of said policy.
“Whiskey River has a standard dress code that states everyone must dress gender-appropriate to the gender stated on their state-issued driver’s license,” Blohm told the paper, adding that “the conversation that was held at the door cannot be verified.”
While Rodriguez’s story has received a fair amount of trolling, many are defending his right to go out in makeup. One supporter even suggested that he film a makeup tutorial detailing his look from the night in question.
“Wow, I am so sorry — this is outrageous,” another commenter wrote on his Facebook wall. “I am mad for you. This is 2018, this shouldn’t have happened. You are beautiful and amazing!”
Meanwhile, Whiskey River’s profile has been targeted by critics accusing it of being “discriminatory.”
Rodriguez says he is focusing on the positive messages he has received — and he doubts he’ll be returning to Whiskey River ever again.
“I’ve had a equal amount of good and bad responses,” Rodriguez told Yahoo Lifestyle about the reaction to his story. “In this world everyone has an opinion, but we choose which one we pay attention to.”
Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
New Jersey could be the next state to lift regulations for hair braiders
Ashley Graham shares touching Mother’s Day message about beauty
Dedicated teacher gets a unicorn-pink hair makeover after students improve test scores
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