10/09/07

By KRYSTEL ROLLE, Guardian Staff Reporter

krystel@nasguard.com

The police "raid" on a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender party attended by scores of tourists last weekend was a "well laid out and planned attack" on the homosexual community, with officers "visiting" two other gay clubs that same night, a group of outraged partygoers claimed.

The officers reportedly also raided the Genesis and Casbar clubs which are in the downtown area. Both clubs were shut down by about 2 a.m. according to the group.

"It's obvious that the presence of the police had gone far beyond them determining if any laws had been broken. At a certain point in the evening it was obvious to everyone present that the purpose of them remaining in the building was to shut the party down, even though the patrons and the organizers of the event had broken no laws," one partygoer said, referring to the party at the Hard Rock Cafe on Saturday which was effectively halted by police officers.

The party, sponsored by Ebony Pyramid Entertainment, was one of the planned events for the patrons of the 8th Annual Black Gay and Lesbian Pride Cruise, which travels to Nassau and Paradise Island for the Columbus Day weekend every year. However, their celebrations ended abruptly this year, after police officers -- one of whom was carrying a video camera -- "busted in" on them.

Erin Greene, who also believes the homosexual community is being targeted, said her group, Rainbow Alliance, would release an official response on the issue today, however she spoke to The Guardian as a patron.

According to her, while the police didn't come with "guns blazing", they came with video cameras, which had a greater effect than the weapons would have had, she said.

"What was most intimidating was that they had video cameras pointing in people's faces and making comments as they were pointing the cameras, and that's more intimidating and harassing sometimes than guns blazing," she said. "And to top it off, these are the tourists that have been coming here for over six years to that very same establishment and at that very same party. It's an annual event," she explained.

Greene said the police did not leave until the party was over eventhough no arrests were made, and no crimes were committed. "We were absolutely being targeted," she said.

According to a Bahamian partygoer the officers, who were described as being "very hostile", arrived at The Hard Rock Cafe on Charlotte Street just after 1 a.m.

The man, speaking to The Nassau Guardian on condition of anonymity said he arrived just before 1 a.m., paid the $25 entrance fee and went upstairs to enjoy what he thought was be a very interesting party.

"When I got in, there was a performer and persons were just mingling around. Then I saw four police coming up the stairs. So I was thinking, what's going on here? Is there something illegal going on? So I exited just in case something criminal was going on," he said yesterday.

Meanwhile, the officers detained and questioned a dancer who was performing in a flesh toned bikini for more than a hour. The source said it was possible for the police to presume that she was naked from a distance but a after getting closer it should have been obvious that she had on a bikini.

When asked why police "raided" the establishment, Chief Supt. Hulan Hanna said, the Dept. of Immigration was concerned about the status of some of the people at the party. He suggested The Guardian call the Director of Immigration Vernon Burrows for an update. However, calls to his office were not answered.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson from Hard Rock Cafe said their establishment had never been raided before. He could not give an account of what happened because he was not at the party. However, he said nothing illegal was going on, therefore he did not feel the need to respond to the story.

Eye witnesses said police shut down the entire street. About four police patrol cars were on the scene blocking persons from coming onto Charlotte Street.