Just Maybe They Just Needed the Stage Space?

Pole Dancers Condemn Buttigieg For Canceling Event at Gay Club Over Stripper Pole

Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg may want to get his supporters to the polls, but his refusal to bring them to a pole is drawing the ire of some in the LGBT community.

The former South Bend, Ind., mayor's campaign canceled a fundraiser at Dark Lady, a gay Rhode Island nightclub, following a dispute over the presence of a stripper pole, according to the venue.

And they say Buttigieg is one of the non-crazy Democrat presidential candidates.

Dark Lady's manager told WPRI that campaign staffers asked the club to remove the pole before the event. When the club refused, staffers canceled the fundraiser. "We guess this is what the gay candidate does to the gay community! #downonthepoles #dancersforanyoneelse," the owners complained on Facebook. "We're open, we're here, we're queer, get over it!"

The Buttigieg campaign's cancellation angered pole dancers including Steven Retchless, an America's Got Talent semi-finalist and the 2010 American Pole Fitness Champion.

Steven Retchless

 Once they've locked down the 3% gay vote, and the 0.3-0.6% transvote, they've got it made!

"The pole stigma is associated with sex work, but sex workers whether they're on a pole or not are humans, too, and shouldn't be discriminated against for providing a service as old as time," Retchless told the Washington Blade. "Get over it and support the whole gay community."

Philip Deal, founder of Mr. Pole Dance America, told the LGBT publication that Buttigieg's decision was "shameful."

Oops, there that goes!

"This points to a bigger issue in the LGBT community which is young gay people don't know our history and that's a serious problem. LGBTQ people died for the right to walk into a bar, dance, and hold hands with their lovers without having to fear police brutality," Deal said. "If Pete Buttigieg does not want to embrace our glorious gay culture, he doesn't need the gay vote."

The Rhode Island fundraiser was supposed to feature an appearance from Buttigieg's husband, Chasten. The openly gay candidate disputed the idea that he was insensitive to "inclusive spaces."

I was surprised to hear that there were men doing pole dancing; but I guess I shouldn't have been. Turns out you can find men better than women at almost any athletic endeavor. Better maybe, but not better looking, IMHO.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Monday: A Fine Pair up on time and under budget.