Mayor Ed Gainey has addressed concerns from the LGBTQIA+ community following an unexpected compliance check conducted by Pittsburgh's Nuisance Bar Task Force at P*Town, a well-known gay bar in Bloomfield, last Friday night. In a statement released by Interim Communications Director Cydney Cooper, detailed by the City of Pittsburgh's official website, Gainey acknowledged the historical use of bar raids to target the LGBTQIA+ community and emphasized the city's commitment to safety and sensitivity to the community's concerns.
The Mayor conceded that past police raids on gay bars often culminated in harassment and violence, a point made poignantly through the recollection of the Stonewall Inn raids that ignited the fight for safe spaces. Gainey mentioned that the recent action at P*Town arose from a fire department report concerning overcrowding. The bar was found to be nearly double its legal capacity of 70 people, with 133 individuals present. The NBTF also identified other violations related to alcohol and building codes in the process, which increased the worries of the community, who feared the return of past harassments. In response, Mayor Gainey assured residents that the city does not aim to intimidate or harm but to enforce safety regulations for the well-being of patrons.
Further to that point, Mayor Gainey has instructed PBP Acting Chief Martin Devine and Public Safety Director Lee Schmidt to review the operations of the task force in light of the history of such compliance checks, and to identify how safeguards can be established to prevent misuse of compliance checks as a tool of harassment. The Mayor has taken personal responsibility for equitable city services.
