Gay Bar (In)Security – A Philadelphia Homicide in the Gayborhood

I’ve written extensively about our need for safe Queer spaces for us to exist within. That has recently come under attack in my hometown of Philadelphia, the supposed City of Brotherly Love. News broke recently of a Philadelphia gay man who died after sustaining injuries in an attack by a local bouncer. Late on the night of April 16th, 41-year-old Eric Pope had been drinking a bit too much at local gay sports bar Tabu, and he was removed from the bar. It’s happened to many and is hardly the biggest issue in the world. The bouncers contracted from Mainline Private Security would have been completely in their right to remove him from the bar, if that’s where the confrontation had ended. But unfortunately, things didn’t stop there. Once he was outside, Pope kept up some shenanigans in the street, a fact that bouncer Kenneth Frye did not like. As seen on security camera footage Frye walked into the street and punched Pope square in the face, sending him to the ground where he hit his head and was knocked unconscious. He died in the hospital a week later on April 23rd from these injuries.

Philadelphia news reporter Kelly Rule obtained and shared the security footage, and I'll warn you in advance it's not a pretty sight. Pope is seen dancing in the street, at which point Frye approaches and drops him with one hard punch. You can watch the video here, but again, viewer discretion is advised.

⚠️WARNING disturbing video⚠️ @PhillyPolice say 41YO Eric Pope was punched by a bouncer outside Tabu Lounge & Sports bar just before 1 AM on 4/16. This is surveillance video from that timeframe. Police say Pope died yesterday from his injuries—homicide investigating @FOX29philly pic.twitter.com/AaqsFhfwKZ

— Kelly Rule (@KellyRuleTV) April 25, 2022

This tragedy would be horrific enough on its own, but the incident wasn’t the only one involving Mainline Private Security at Philadelphia gay bars. This was the only one that resulted in a death, but on March 27th, an employee from the private security company had an altercation with a patron at Voyeur Nightclub leading to them breaking one of the bones in the patron’s neck. Just a few days later, over at U Bar, another Mainline Private Security employee choked and slammed a patron into the ground leading to them sustaining head injuries.

How is this possible? Three bars, all with bouncers from the same private security company, all with incidents where the bouncers attacked the patrons? Well, the answer is simple: Mainline Private Security is not required to make their employees complete training of any kind. None. Zilch. How three extremely prominent gay bars in one of the biggest cities in the country can use such a company is borderline unfathomable to me. Our need to feel safe in Queer spaces historically has been to protect us from harmful outside forces. But it would appear that now – at least in Philadelphia – we need protecting from harmful inside forces, as well. MPS' website states, "We will frequent your location to ensure that all of our employees are conducting themselves within our strict code of ethics and guidelines." I wonder, do three incidents from three different gay bars fall within their code of ethics?

Philadelphia’s gay neighborhood, affectionately – and officially – known as “The Gayborhood” is by and large recognized as the first formal gay neighborhood in the country, as well as the first to be recognized as such by its local government. Growing up in the area, I always loved seeing the rainbow patterns that were built directly into the street signs. The first pride parade I ever saw up close was when I was about a year and a half out of the closet, and I was busboy at the incredible staple that is Mixto Restaurante in the heart of The Gayborhood. Philadelphia also hosted what is considered to be the first Queer march ever, yes even before the Stonewall Riots. On July 4th 1965, Queers and their allies descended on Independence Hall (where the Declaration of Independence was signed) in Philadelphia for what would become the first of The Annual Reminders. The Annual Reminders were organized marches held from 1965 until 1969. In 1969, after the Stonewall Riots, the organizers of The Annual Reminders decided to shift their focus to organize Christopher Street Liberation Day in NYC, which would become the first Pride Parade as we know them today.

Queer spaces are sacred, and are more important now than ever. With the recent devastating news that the repeal of Roe v. Wade seems apparently imminent, all eyes will then shift to LGBTQ+ rights, and the legal attacks that will ensue. Our family needs to feel safe in the places that we gather, and the last people we should be fearing are the people whose literal job it is to protect us.

As of the writing of this article, Kenneth Frye turned himself in to the police, and has been formally charged with third degree murder. Tabu and its owner Jeffrey Sotland have been fully cooperating with the authorities and have made it clear that the incident happened off of their property, as well as the fact that their staff immediately rushed to Pope’s aid in calling for help when it was clear that he was badly injured.

Tim Craig, a friend of Pope’s told the Philadelphia Inquirer, “I don’t want to sound cliché, but he was a very friendly guy.” Continuing, “He was one of the most genuine, friendly, kindhearted, empathetic persons you could meet. And I don’t say that lightly. He had a lot of friends.” Pope was also the youngest person ever to serve on the School Committee in his hometown of New Bedford. He was 21 when elected in 2001, and would serve on the committee for 9 years.

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