Wrongbar just hosted a string of high-profile NXNE events, taking advantage of an extended 4 am last call without incident. However, iconic west-end queer events Big Primpin’ and Vazaleen will not have the same privilege at the bar this year, thanks to local councillor Gord Perks, who’s blocking the application.
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The optics are horrible. Big Primpin’ is an incredibly popular “hip-hop for homos” monthly night that was largely responsible for bringing queer nightlife to the area over the last seven years. This year’s Vazaleen party is a memorial event for its creator, Will Munro, and features performances by Montreal’s Lesbians on Ecstasy, among many others.
But the snub has less to do with the nature of the events than with Perks’s ongoing campaign against the bar on behalf of a group of residents.
However, many residents who live nearby – myself included – are among Wrongbar’s biggest supporters and credit the establishment with scaring away crack dealers and revitalizing the strip.
“It’s clearly coming from a political perspective, and not a very good one,” says Big Primpin’s Jeremy Laing, who operates a fashion studio directly across the street. “There’s a huge gay constituency who live in Parkdale and throw events here. To pick and choose who gets to have an extended licence doesn’t seem equitable.”
Marcus McLean of the Parkdale BIA has similar thoughts on the issue.
“It feels like Perks is trying to make some sort of example out of Wrongbar,” McLean says after sending a letter to Perks in protest.
“Dare I say it, but it is election season, and he may be trying to pander to votes that may or may not be there at the end of the day.”
Perks sees the issue in very different terms.
“[Wrongbar owner Nav] Sangha still has outstanding charges for violating his licence conditions and was cautioned before, and I don’t think it’s good public policy to extend hours for someone who’s not operating within his licence,” Perks explains on a break between meetings.
The outstanding charge is from a night in February when the bar was ticketed for being short four stools. At the time, an employee was in the back room assembling 12 new stools to replace broken ones, and Sangha is contesting the charge.
“I really want people to understand that I think Gord Perks is an amazing councillor, but I think he’s missing the point on this issue,” a disappointed Sangha sighs.
“We’ve always been in compliance with municipal bylaws and we’ve always operated to the letter of the law.”
Unfortunately, this whole debacle means that the strong queer community in Parkdale has no late-night venues for partying during Pride. Benjamin Boles
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• Big Primpin’, Friday, (July 2), Wrongbar (1279 Queen West)
• Vazaleen, Sunday, (July 4), Wrongbar (1279 Queen West).
