A beloved LGBTQ+ bar in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was raided by police on Friday in the middle of a scheduled drag show featuring Amanda Lepore.
What the owners of P Town have called a "surprise inspection" has been described by attendees as reminiscent of past police raids of gay establishments in the 1960s and 70s. Around 20 Pennsylvania State Police officers and undercover agents entered the bar around 11:30 p.m., forcing patrons and staff to wait outside in the rain while they searched the building.
P Town's management said in a statement posted to Instagram that the raid was performed by officers from the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, Fire Department, and Health Department as "part of an efforts to ensure establishments remain in compliance with [Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board] regulations." They added that "officers acted professionally, to my knowledge, no patrons were mistreated."
Management went on to explain that the raid was sparked by their occupancy limit, which they have been attempting to receive an updated license for since renovating their space to accommodate more patrons during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. An estimated 130 people were attending the event, despite the bar's legal limit still being listed as 70. P Town said that it "will make a more proactive effort" to obtain the updated license.
Attendees still felt that the LGBTQ+ establishment was unfairly targeted over others in the area who potentially have the same violations. They described the raid as a frightening and confusing experience as they were forced outside — but not before local drag artist Blade Matthews could finish a performance of "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen, making the officers wait through the six-minute song.
Drag artist Indica continued entertaining the crowd even as they waited outside, leading an a capella version of "Pink Pony Club" by Chappell Roan. Indica said after that officers recognized Lepore once outside, and asked for selfies with her while they inspected the building.
“It was an LCB raid taken to the extreme. We waited 30 minutes outside for them to inspect every crevice,” Indica told local LGBTQ+ publication QBurgh. “Queer people banded together and showed we are so much stronger than an attempt to make us scared or comply with their rules."
The City of Pittsburgh did not initiate the complaint against P Town that led to the raid, according to the outlet, but officials are currently working to determine where it came from.
