One of the most prominent new gay clubs in New York City issued an apology to its patrons after a co-founder was fired and sued for reportedly making discriminatory remarks, inciting drug use, and engaging in open sex with young men there.
In a lawsuit, Alan Picus is charged with saying he only desired white partygoers and barred anyone who “looked like they were from the Bronx.”
According to reports, Picus refused to employ persons of colour in the club because it was crucial that they “don’t alienate the white males.”
Additionally, he is believed to have warned managers to place white bartenders in strategic locations throughout the establishment, asserting it would keep patrons pleased.
He allegedly said to one bar manager applicant during an interview: “I don’t need to bend my back to recruit individuals just because they’re black or trans.”
According to the lawsuit, Picus had sex with young males in front of patrons throughout the entire club.
He is charged with actively promoting the acceptance of the party drug GHB, sometimes known as “dating rape,” and with instructing door security to tell anyone entering the club not to have their IDs checked.
Picus is believed to have stated: “I’m going to give Edwin [the director of security] the riot act” when he learned that the bouncers were seizing the narcotic.
They are removing the GHB from our boys.
Since then, Picus has been expelled from the club. He did not reply to the lawsuit.
In June 2021, the club, The Q, opened to much excitement in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighbourhood.
Billy Porter, Jake Shears from The Scissor Sisters, and Zachary Quinto, a Star Trek actor, were some of the famous supporters.
The ground floor of the four-story townhouse featured live entertainment, while the lounge room in the middle was open to visitors.
On the top floor, there was a suspended catwalk for dance.
The largest queer-owned and operated nightlife club in Manhattan, according to award-winning event producer, nightlife curator, and DJ Frankie Sharp, with a focus on respect and inclusivity.
According to its website, the pub makes a point of offering a “affirming, inclusive atmosphere for anyone to enjoy.”
Any type of racist, homophobic, transphobic, sexist, sizeist, ageist, or ableist behavior—including verbal or physical violence—as well as non-consensual touching will not be accepted.
Sharp, however, is now suing co-founder Picus and Bob Fluet, alleging that Fluet covered up for Picus’ actions.
Fluet allegedly fired him in May of this year after Sharp complained about Picus.
On June 10, Sharp filed a lawsuit in New York Supreme Court accusing Picus and Fluet of breaching the terms of the agreement and asking for back money as well as a cut of the anticipated $5.6 million in earnings.
Sharp told NPR, “I wanted to establish a safe space—not in the clichéd sense that we often see the term used, but a true and sacred space for all of our gay family to feel comfortable enough to enjoy themselves and express themselves in a cathartic way.”
“I intended to create a Trump era countermeasure.” I intended to construct a home for everyone of us.
The new creative director, Luis Fernando, stated on July 6 on Instagram that Picus was “no longer linked with the Q.”
Picus is silent regarding the lawsuit.
Fluet claimed, “I trusted my producers and team, but it turns out I spread myself a little thin and relied on our producers too much.”
“I’ve always tried to have a low profile so that my employees could take the initiative to produce fantastic programming and spectacular locations.”
In his lawsuit, Sharp asserts that he informed Fluet of Picus’s deeds.
Although he was frequently observed having sex acts with (sometimes extremely young-looking) patrons in the club’s public sections, Sharp claimed, “I had heard about Alan participating in sexual activity in the personnel washroom on a regular basis.”
This pattern of behaviour disturbed me greatly. When I expressed those worries to Bob, he dismissed them and made fun of me.
More than 20 coworkers voiced complaints to Sharp regarding Picus, according to Sharp.
From bartenders to DJs to promoters to dancers. Every day. Over the course of the first year of operation, we experienced an almost amusing turnover in managers, Sharp remarked.
We all developed coping mechanisms since Bob [Fluet] was the domineering partner and he did nothing to change the situation.
The objections that were made the loudest were always mine.
Sadly, Bob regularly belittled, dismissed, and neglected me and the workers.
On Instagram, Fluet posted that he was trying to make things better.
All residents of the Q have experienced severe difficulty during the past three days.
On July 5, he wrote, “From the management, to the workers, to the customers.”
‘Q was founded primarily to serve the diverse LGBTQIA+ community as a whole, giving our staff, artists, and customers a safe haven to fully express their personality.
We are committed to putting a stop to the same split among our community that Q’s programming and goals were created to address, even as we adamantly refute the terrible charges that have lately come to light.
On a personal note, he continued, “I am dedicated to encouraging an open debate on how the Q can better serve our community and I will continue to engage in educating my staff—and myself—on the distinctive problems our community faces as a whole.
Through my continuous support of LGBTQIA+ groups, non-profits, political leaders, and communities of colour, I will always work to advance the agenda for all.
No racism, transphobia, colorism, or other kind of discrimination has ever been accepted at one of my events and it never will be. I’m committing to you in this way.