By Marke B.
It’ll be a cold, cold January without monthly Monday goth spectacular Death Guild
Holy snuffboxes and ankle-baring skirt-ruffling! The ABC’s war on fun in SF continues — this time the victim is the ever-lively club DNA Lounge, host of great parties as Bootie, Death Guild, Hubba Hubba Revue, and so many more.
After a protracted struggle with the ABC — which leveled charges of “lewdness” against the club for some hardly even eyebrow-raising go-go antics — owner Jamie Zawinsky struck a deal to close his club from Monday, January 4th through Thursday, January 28th, 2010, in order to avoid having his liquor license revoked and the club shut down.
We wrote about the DNA woes earlier this year as part of our ongoing Death of Fun coverage. Zawinsky had applied for an all-ages permit, the ABC denied it, he appealed and won. Soon afterward, the ABC sent undercover agents into two parties, witnessed brief flashes of buttocks and such, including a (gasp!) simulated lapdance, and slapped DNA with charges of “running a disorderly house injurious to the public welfare and morals.” Because this ridiculous charge from the 1700s targeted only the two queer parties at the club, accusations of homophobia on the part of the ABC roiled the gay community.
Zawinsky spent more than $140,000 and a very stressful year fighting the charges. (He could really use your generous, keep-the-party-alive donations here. Join the “Save the DNA Lounge” Facebook group here. Plus: T-shirts!) He has also been a major player in organizing against the insidious War on Fun.
After the jump, Jamie’s exclusive statement to us about his necessary compromise, the ABC’s petty vindictiveness, and what a month’s closure will cost the club:.