LGBT hotspots in Philadelphia have increased security, with bag-checks and police presence, in the wake of the mass shooting at Pulse, a popular LGBT nightclub in Orlando, that left at least 49 dead and 53 injured.
Early reports said the death toll was 50 people, but authorities later clarified that included the gunman, Omar Mateen, who died in a shoot-out with a SWAT team.
“We have to give kudos to the Philadelphia Police Department,” Michael Weiss, owner of Woody’s, told PGN June 13, the day after Philadelphia Pride and the shooting in Orlando. “They were the ones who came forward and said they’d have a detail outside Woody’s.”
During Philadelphia Pride, there were four officers stationed outside the bar. They served on their day off, Weiss said, noting many of the city’s on-duty officers were already assigned to monitor the parade route.
Woody’s also instituted a bag check and is looking into metal-detector wands to avoid police pat-downs. Weiss said bag-checks are already in place at Voyeur, another bar he owns with his brother, Billy, because it’s open later and has dealt with issues in the past.
“It can get a little intrusive,” Weiss said of the increased security, “but at this point, it’s for the good of the many.”
Tabu co-owner Jeffrey Sotland said the bar tripled security during Pride and stopped people with guns or knives from entering. Three guns and two knives were discovered during bag-checks, he said.
“Everyone who had their bags checked and were delayed in getting in were quite understanding,” Sotland wrote in an email to PGN.
Darryl Depiano, owner of ICandy, said bag checks were added as a permanent policy change. No dangerous items were found during Pride.
“We’re definitely on heightened alert,” Depiano said.
At Stir, the owners are meeting to discuss adding emergency trainings for staff that include active shooter simulations. Co-owner Stacey Vey said the bar already has training for less severe emergencies.
Vey said Stir would not seek increased police presence. Officers regularly patrol Rittenhouse Square, where the bar is located, and employees have not had trouble getting a quick response from authorities when needed.
“We don’t want to live in total fear,” Vey said. “But we do want to be more proactive.”
Stir does employ a doorman. There are three emergency exits: two in the back and one in the front.
“We’re so small, we can see everyone come in the door,” Vey added. “We have a steady following of the same people. If anybody looks out of place, we keep an eye on them.”
She said Stir uses a security camera system that she can check from her smartphone.
Several bars said they’d seen an increase in patronage since the shooting; many people told the owners that they wanted to come to show they weren’t afraid to be out and proud.
“People want to digest and talk about it and unite,” Vey said.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney stopped by Woody’s during Pride last weekend. Weiss said Kenney spent a long time talking with customers, shaking hands and hugging people.
“It’s one thing to go to Penn’s Landing for the Pride festival,” Weiss said. “But it’s quite another for the mayor to come to the center of the Gayborhood to the city’s largest gay bar and sit and show support with our community.”
Depiano said ICandy is usually less crowded the Monday after Pride because people have already spent their money and partied.
“This year, Monday was a really big night for people to come out,” he said. “It definitely changed the atmosphere.”