Drag Shows Stir Controversy For Harford Liquor Board

BEL AIR, MD — The Harford County Liquor Control Board has been stirring controversy with a particular rule about outfits and entertainment. Specifically, it has been making business owners who plan to hold drag events aware of the rule, which outlines attire and conduct that could result in the revocation of a business's liquor license.

Businesses around the county say they have canceled any drag shows that they had planned, lest they lose their liquor licenses.

Alchemy Elements and the Main Street Tower have nixed events slated for June and April, respectively, according to The Aegis.

"I had to cancel; otherwise, I could lose my liquor license," Renato Buontempo, owner of the Tower, told The Aegis, after the liquor board administrator and inspector met with him before his April 27 event.

Liquor board representatives reportedly cited Rule 4:23 of the Harford County Liquor Control Board's Rules and Regulations.

The rule requires revocation of a liquor license on the basis of attire or entertainment that meets any of these criteria:

• Someone employed in the sale or service of alcoholic beverages "is unclothed or in attire, costume, or clothing so as to expose to view any portion of the female breast below the top of the areola or any portion of the pubic hair, anus, cleft of the buttocks, vulva or genitals."
• An individual may not allow or encourage others "to caress or fondle the breasts, buttocks, anus or genitals of another individual" or "wear or use a device or covering exposed to view that simulates any portion of the breast, genitals, anus or pubic hair."
• Additionally, performers in licensed liquor establishments may not provide entertainment that simulates "sexual intercourse, masturbation, sodomy, bestiality, oral copulation, flagellation or a sexual act that is prohibited by law; the caressing or fondling of the breast, buttocks, anus or genitals; or the display of the pubic hair, vulva or genitals."

According to The Aegis, concern over the rule surfaced after the Jarrettsville VFW proposed hosting an "adult" bingo in January.

However, the drag shows do not violate any of the rules stated above, according to those who support them.

"It's just boys dressed up as women," a server at Alchemy Elements told The Aegis. "They wear gowns, and they dance around." The server's friends were going to participate in a drag event at Alchemy, but it was reportedly canceled as a result of a meeting with the liquor board.

The liquor board did not respond to a request for comment for this story by press time as to what part of the rule it is concerned about regarding drag events at area businesses.

Drag shows typically entail men dressed as women, often in exaggerated stylized outfits.

"As a community member, I'm also aware of these events, and all of these events were sold out or close to selling out. A couple of these venues have said they make more at these events than weddings. It's bananas," Sara Baker, who lives in Bel Air, told Bel Air Patch. "People in Harford County are still going to go to drag events. They are just going to do it in other counties. That's a ton of money. Not only is this hugely discriminatory, it's costing us a ton."

Here is an example of a drag brunch:

Baker said that she plans to speak out during the public comment period at the Harford County Liquor Control Board's May 22 meeting as a member of the community because businesses may not feel like it is safe to do so.

Baker said she has spoken with those at restaurants that have had to cancel events as a result of meetings with the liquor control representatives.

"People are of course very worried about their liquor licenses. I don't have a liquor license, so I have no problem going to the board and saying that I've spoken with half of these restaurants, and this is what they've all told me," Baker said. She told Bel Air Patch that the liquor inspector threatened to attend and film a drag show from various angles until he was able to find a violation at one of the businesses, whose name she would not mention.

"Upon finding out about the blatant abuse of power from the liquor board, that lit my fire a little," Baker said. Asked what her stake in this is, she said: "I'm a stay-at-home mom that wants to go to drag brunch. I live off 924, and I want to be able to walk to drag brunch."

Added Baker: "I really feel like [the liquor board inspector] has made his biases very clear, and it's up to the board to do something about it, whether that's making a very clear statement to the restaurants that their licenses will be safe, they will not be threatened with retaliation after hosting these events, or derating Mr. Colburn. I really do not think he should have this job if this is the way that he conducts himself."

William Colburn is the liquor inspector for the board. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Patch.

The Harford County Board of Liquor Control meeting is at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22, at 16 North Main Street in Bel Air.

Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct the name of the organization that proposed hosting adult bingo.