Man alleges he was kicked out of swimming pool in Las Vegas because his bathing suit was 'too gay'
A homosexual man was kicked out of a pool party in Las Vegas for apparently wearing "inappropriate swimwear". On Saturday, security approached Chris Donohoe when he was partying in the famous Encore Beach Club at Wynn Las Vegas. He was escorted out of the club and told he would have to leave if he does not cover up over a $98 pair of Mr Turk swim briefs that he was wearing.
"I was kicked out for being a gay man wearing a bathing suit that was just a little too gay for the Encore Beach Club to tolerate," he wrote on Facebook.
Juan Casado, another gay man who says he was discriminated against at the venue, contacted Donohoe after he posted his complaints on Facebook. Donohoe was pushed off a dance platform in the pool by a security guard, as seen in a video shared by Casado, reported Daily Mail.
Apparently, authorities later told him only women were allowed to dance on the podium.
"I saw your post and I just want to say that I have been discriminated there as well," Casado wrote to Donohoe. "Not for being gay (even though I am) but the double standard of being male or female."
Just moments after he was thrown out of the Encore pool party, the two security guards laughed at him, Donohoe said. "I didn't even say anything to [my friend] Veselka because I'm so f*****g used to this s**t," Donohoe explained. "Two men, walking by me, laughing at me, pointing and laughing at what I was wearing - which I think is fab, by the way."
He also revealed that the general manager confronted him and told him his swimwear attire was not "in integrity" with the brand of the pool party.
"As far as I understand the policy is no Speedos, and this is not a Speedo," Donohoe can be heard telling the manager in the footage. "I would just like to have the same rules as everyone else," he continues. "This is not a Speedo. I would love to go in there with all the other people not wearing Speedos."
"You're more than welcome as long as you put your shorts on," the manager tells him.
"But it doesn't sound like I'm allowed to wear this — which is not a Speedo — because I'm a gay man, because this is too much skin," Donohoe continues.
"This has nothing to do with your sexual preferences," the manager responds.
"Then why is this the rule?" Donohoe asks. "What about this is not in integrity with your brand?" Donohoe asks.
"Because we have a dress code which says what you can and cannot wear," the manager replies.
Guests at Encore must "dress to impress", according to their dress code. It even mentions that "pool attire is required to enter the venue."
That said, although the policy's "prohibited apparel" does not allow undergarments, see-through bathing suits, or torn or cut-off clothing, Speedos were not listed under it.
Another line in the policy document says "no risqué or indecent swimwear is permitted" and that "management reserves all rights to determine appropriate attire."
Having said that, after the incident with Donohoe, Michael Weaver, the CMO of Wynn Resorts, revealed that this is a new policy the hotel will now enforce. "In the Encore Beach Club, we have a policy, clearly posted at the entrance, which prohibited Speedos," he told Yahoo!
"Upon receiving a guest complaint, we reviewed the policy and have changed it. The new policy will allow Speedos, but will prohibit risqué and indecent swimwear for both men and women."
"We will include the new policy on entry signage, as well as the club website, in order to help guests plan appropriately and enjoy a welcoming environment."
"We apologize to the guest who was affected by our previous policy."
According to Weaver, the hotel has accommodated all of its LGBTQ patrons seamlessly "for years".
"Decisions to enforce policies are solely based on guest behavior, or in this case, attire," he said in the statement.
"We have always and will continue to apply attire policies equally to all of our guests, regardless of sexual orientation."