Drag Queens Suing Rockefeller Center

A fierce group of drag queens are suing Rockefeller Center, alleging that security guards tried to stop them from taking photos outside in the plaza and ordered them to disperse. WCBS reports that the festively dressed transvestites were having a gay old time taking photos of themselves when security guards approached and said they were not allowed to take pictures in the plaza.

A YouTube video (also after the jump) shows the chaotic scene, with lots of yelling in Spanish and sour-faced security personal trying to shoo away the increasingly incensed drag queens. One of them tells the Post, “They wouldn't give us a reason for why we couldn't be there, but we're pretty sure it's because of how we were dressed.” After a lot of booing, the group was finally allowed to stay, but they’ve filed discrimination complaints with the state Division of Human Rights.

A Rockefeller Center spokeswoman said, "Rockefeller Center is visited and loved each year by millions of people of all cultures and backgrounds. We do not discriminate."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on August 1, 2008 1:35 PM

Comments [rss]

Asphyxia8

A friend who's investigating this for an article he's working on just told me that their latest justification for the melee is because Homeland Security (!?!?!) restrictions forbid photos at Rockefeller Center. That seems to be the catch-all excuse these days for curtailing civil liberties, doesn't it? I wonder if this means that they'll also be banning all photographs of the Christmas tree this season. Or maybe just those taken by drag queens?

A-8, incensed, but taking a deep breath...

nymichi

Where is the old and good NYC? you even can not be yourself (or dress up and be whoever you want) without "cause problems" (as poilice would say)

And now take a bike, ride it in Times Square and if you can pass it all without being stopped-down (dont know the work in english, but you know what I mean) by another police you get 10 points..

Michi

www.glimpseofnewyork.com

missunderstood

Who wouldn't want to watch some colorful New Yorkers turn it out in Rockefeller Center? I'm sure the tourists were thrilled. When I was young we saw the legendary Rollerina at Rockefeller Center (I think she was protesting something)and it made our day. I say sue the fuckers. They never learn if you don't sue them.

Reflect

Its is like a Hot Tranny Mess up in here..

Ladies I need to tell you something. You are some trannys

that look like a Hot Mess- and not in a good way. Your

ticky tac Trannys and out of control Super trannys from Transouth america and are not aplogizing for it.

Future Taliban

WWJEHD

What Would J Edgar Hoover Do?

AggieAngst

Oh for fug's sake, give some people the teeniest bit of power and they wield it with everything they've got. :p

If a person has gone to all the trouble to get a pageant banner done up, she is going to be mighty pissed if she can't have her picture made wearing it...

NannyState

Roving packs of drag queens can be dangerous, particularly for people with small pets. I saw one pet owner at 7th and 46th beside herself with horror over her Bichon getting lost in just this kind of drag queen pack only to reemerge with latex booties, a cire sash, and a Gaultier collar with silhouettes of sailors blowing each other.

Snoopy

Most Roman emperors were gay.

What is the problem here? The more gays out there, the more chicks left over for those that like women. Plus, most gay men are a hell of a lot better looking, richer and more intelligent than the average homophobic that dislike them.

Sommelier

"You wanna act like a freak, you don't get to have trivial "rights" like this. NYPD RULES!"

The law is also to protect the citizens from apes like deca2... or "from the tyranny of the majority" to those with at least half a brain. Anyone with an understanding of history would know that some of our Founding Fathers (Liberals, one and all!) were a bit freaky.

UnrepentantFenian

That is a hot tranny mess right there.

EastRiver

This is clearly a First Amendment right that is being infringed.

The First Amendment protects you from the government, not private security guards.

NYLaughs

and yet...they find it perfectly OK for tourists to slop around in their Crocs and fanny packs.

If looking fierce is a crime...lock me up!

JMH

Zodak wins

Guest

Security probably thought that was Amy Winehouse and wanted her ass out of there before she collapsed from whatever cocktail of drugs running through her system.

robingee

Who is shocked by drag queens in NYC?

stfu, kojak.

JRod5417

Oh, I thought that was just a photo of Matt Lauer in drag.

Kojak

"transvestites are straight men who are sexually excited by women's clothing, drag queens are gay men who perform as women and transsexuals are people who are born with a different gender than what they are"

Lets just call them all 'fags' for short. It makes things easier

billybob

That's Tischman Speyer security guards, the worst, most inept company in the city. They have caused so many problems in that area it's amazing someone is still awarding them contracts.

diabolix

Get your facts correct Gothamist - transvestites are straight men who are sexually excited by women's clothing, drag queens are gay men who perform as women and transsexuals are people who are born with a different gender than what they are.

TheKlaus

If there's one thing this article taught me, it's that deca2 deserves less civil rights privileges than the rest of us.

CR

I'm dissapointed lil' Matty Lauer didn't join in. You just know he's a big 'ole queen.

zodak

the sheinhardt wig company is going to have to pay up.

redhookreject

If you read Deca2's posts I too see a very repressed man, a man who just longs to be himself and wear mom's wedding dress.

he's a lumberjack, he's ok...

redhookreject

maybe it was those whistles...

as for deca2... Didn't know that NYPD was security at 30 Rock...

snessnyc

You go girls! And deca2 - that sounds an awful lot like internalized homophobia to me. In our society, as long as no one is getting hurt EVERYONE whether you like them or not has the same rights. This is clearly a First Amendment right that is being infringed.