Gay Clubs Not the Only Targets

By: PAUL SCHINDLER

08/07/2008

	Splash, the gay bar of West 17th Street, was among 13 establishments hit with either enforcement or major inspection actions on the Friday evening leading into Pride Weekend; only three of the 13 had gay-related events planned for the weekend.

City inspections and closings of nightlife businesses that took place on New York City's gay pride weekend do not appear to have singled out gay establishments.

On June 27, the police department's legal unit temporarily closed Pacha and Marquee, two Manhattan nightclubs scheduled to hold gay parties that weekend, after undercover police officers made drug buys in them. Following the closings, organizers scrambled to move the gay parties to other venues.

A detective, identified in court records only by a number, bought cocaine from two different Marquee employees seven times since January 5. In Pacha, undercover officers made ten drug buys, including cocaine, special K, marijuana, and ecstasy, since August 11 of last year.
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