The owner of Marcia’s, a sports bar for queer women in Philadelphia, has responded to allegations of racism and transphobia that have been circulating online over the past week.
The allegations were first raised by former employee Olivia Rose, who spoke out about Marsha’s environment on social media after she was fired earlier this month.
“Marsha’s may claim to be a queer safe space, but it is not,” Rhodes claims in a video posted on social media on April 18.
Rose accused the bar’s general manager, Rylan Murphy, of creating a hostile work environment and disrespecting female employees and employees of color. Rose said that at one point Murphy made a comment that female and non-binary employees at the bar were “overly emotional” and needed “more testosterone” and should be replaced with men. Rose further claimed that shortly after the comments were made, the bar began hiring more male employees.
Rose also claimed that Murphy yelled at her for 30 minutes when she confronted him about the lack of staff at the bar. Rose said she was fired a week later, even though an employee review just a month earlier said her work was “exceeding expectations.” The review also praised her “honest and open communication” and “professionalism and consideration.” philadelphia gay newsobtained the document.
rose said philadelphia gay news The bar’s owner, Chivon Anderson, said he called police after she asked him why she was fired. Rose said she left before police arrived, but when she returned the next day to protest, police called her again. Her termination documents said she was fired “due to continued non-conformity with the company’s business practices and standards.”
Rose also claimed that in the original video, the leaders made comments about black artists performing music at the bar, particularly Megan Thee Stallion, as being “ghetto” and “too black” and suggested white artists perform instead.
Said Seisha Mason, another former employee: PGN Rose said she filed a complaint with the city’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission after she was suddenly fired on April 12, just five days before she was fired. Mason said she was treated poorly and that management retaliated when she raised concerns. He also said Anderson asked him why he was fired, but he did not respond.
Anderson responded to the allegations in a video message issued Wednesday. She explained at the beginning of the video that she opened Marsha’s as a space for women’s sports, the queer community, and specifically “Black queers and Black trans people.”
“You deserve a space to feel safe, respectful and affirming,” Anderson said. Anderson said the bar association has begun an internal review process that includes dialogue with independent human resources personnel and DEI consultants “to ensure that we remain accountable.”
“We are committed to regaining your trust,” Anderson added.
The conciliatory tone of the video was markedly different from the one Anderson posted a day earlier, in which Rose accused him of making “false statements” about Marcia that “couldn’t be further from the truth.” PGN.
Rose also posted leaked text messages on his Instagram page earlier this week that he said were from a Marsha leadership group chat. The messages, allegedly from Murphy, said Rose “has no friends” and “doesn’t hang out with people”, adding that the backlash to her claims “won’t last long” because “all she has is socializing”. they We could not independently verify the authenticity of the text messages.
Several event partners who previously worked with Marcia’s are now reportedly looking for venues to host their events elsewhere. PGN.
Marsha’s opened in September and was reportedly the first sports bar in Philadelphia to focus on gay women. CBS NewsI covered this event as a “long-held dream” of the city. “[I] “I’m an out queer woman, so I decided to call it Marsha’s as a way to honor one of the founders of the queer LGBTQ movement in the ’60s,” Anderson told CBS News.
In March, police investigated Marsha’s after receiving reports that it was operating without a proper license and providing alcohol to minors. W.P.VI.. Up to 20 law enforcement officers showed up at Marcia’s home to investigate her claims. Some said the incident was a harsh reminder of the long history of police presence in Marsha. queer spaces in philadelphia.
of philadelphia LGBTQ+ bar scene It has a long history of dealing with instances of racism, including in September 2016 when the video aired. Darryl DePianoowner of the currently closed bar iCandy, using the n-word Refers to black patrons.
This story was originally they.
Source: Advocate.com – www.advocate.com
