A gay bear club in London allegedly denied one man entry because he showed up in a fierce look that included high heels.
“It’s not something you do everyday,” Pavel Vacek explains. “I bought them a year ago, and I’ve only worn them once. When you have heels on, people look at you. It’s something special, and something different from trainers. I think they’re hot.”
Vacek says that he and his friends tried going to XXL, a gay nightclub in south London catering to the bear community, on August 11th. When they got to the door, the bouncer wouldn’t let him in.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmbyyU-Fg2u/?hl=en&taken-by=pavelthedancer
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“It wasn’t aggressive,” he explains. “He said it was club policy that you can’t wear make-up, wigs, high heels or anyone feminine. He said: ‘We don’t allow femininity.'”
“I think he was just doing his job. I was upset of course but I wasn’t blaming the bouncer. It’s just the general attitude of the club.”
“If you wear heels, it doesn’t mean you’re feminine,” Vacek continues. “Who says heels are just for women? You can be masculine and super buff and wear heels. I think it’s sexier. It’s not a written rule.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmbxmrUlVMi/?hl=en&taken-by=pavelthedancer
Vacek says he won’t be going back to XXL anytime soon. “I’m quite open-minded and I like open-minded environments,” he says. “If there’s strict rules for something, I don’t like it.”
The club didn’t return Gay Star News’ request for comment.
lauraspencer
Totally the right of the bar/club to determine their door policy.
There used to be a bar in NYC that would stop you at the door if you wore sneakers, sports t-shirts, shorts and smelled of cologne. They were trying to create a jeans and leather theme. If you don’t like the policy then simply go to another bar and pay for overpriced drinks. Plenty to choose from.
AndThenTheresMax
Do you remember the days of movies like Al Pacino’s Cruising and the leather documentaries like “Tops and Bottoms”? What made it sexy? I’ll tell ya. Men in leather. You did not see men in heels, anything feminine, drag or even bear drag. What made half the world hard for the movie is the overt masculinity, the ridiculously hot leather action and, of course the leather sex.
Now before you start with the “you’re wrong” comments. I’m not wrong. You don’t see Treasure Island Media, Dark Alley Media or Hot House Productions combining men with heels, lace, stocking and garters do you? And all you “cisgender, toxic masculinity, free to be you and me” freaks don’t even respond with, “I don’t watch that.” Yes you do, you just won’t admit it publically.
At the end of the day heels, lace and garters are NOT LEATHER they are drag or cross-dressing. So XXL had every right to clock him and say, “You’re not welcome here.” They are not saying, “We don’t want you here!” They are saying, “Take off the heels queen and act like a boy while you are in our walls because only party with boys and men.” And instead of acting like a whiny baby not getting his way, why didn’t he just take off the boots, put on some hot Doc Martens and go back? There’s a thought.
You “born this way”, “cisgender”, “don’t label me” people forget one thing. You have ever right to request you be treated a certain way. And gay clubs have every right to say, “You’re not welcome here as you don’t fit what we want to build.” In short, just because you don’t make me hard wearing heels and stockings doesn’t make me (insert the pronoun) phobic. It’s just life.
StraightnNarrow
While I agree with your general sentiment about the club rules, the whole leather thing is just ridiculous. They make you look like a clown and trying too hard. But hey it’s a free society. If some people are determined to wear outlandish costumes, I suppose it’s their right to do so.
russdog
@andthentheresmax I used to watch Treasure Island Media. I was one of their first mail order customers back in the 90s. I eventually gave up when they turned into basically a meth-fueled, death-worshiping, satanic cult once bareback and HIV weren’t shocking enough.
And Pavel didn’t seem to have a fit. He took his heels elsewhere.
Jboo
@AndThenTheresMax
THIS. So much this. You are my idol.
dwes09
“It wasn’t aggressive,” he explains. “He said it was club policy that you can’t wear make-up, wigs, high heels or anyone feminine. He said: ‘We don’t allow femininity.’”
“I think he was just doing his job. I was upset of course but I wasn’t blaming the bouncer. It’s just the general attitude of the club.”
Seems that Max sees with his assumptions rather than his brain. I cannot seem to find anything about that comment which is either whiny or baby like. His comment, on the other hand, is most decidedly whiny. And his: “And all you “cisgender, toxic masculinity, free to be you and me” freaks don’t even respond with, “I don’t watch that.” Yes you do, you just won’t admit it publically” is typical regressive conflation of imagination with reality. There are gay men who watch “chick with dick” porn and crossdressing porn. And you know, you actually have no idea who those people are. Assuming you know what turns others on is, to put it kindly…not intelligent.
By way of a bit of history, high heels were originally worn by European noblemen for equestrian use. They exaggerated and were worn for fashion, still by men. It was only later that they became a woman’s style. Considering them intrinsically feminine is as arbitrary and silly as considering fetish gear “manly”.
russdog
@dwes09 Thanks. High heels, make-up, wigs, were often associated with male attire and considered masculine for much longer than we’ve considered it feminine. Men adorned themselves, wore crotch enhanced pants, painted and puffed, ruffled and rouged. Wigs were a symbol of status and obviously still worn in UK government. It was commonplace to be powdered and perfumed in the 17th and 18th centuries in much of high class Europe, for example (usually because everyone stank).
Nosso Crankee
“dwes 09” and “russdog”… It’s 2018, Ladies….
StraightnNarrow
Why would any decent masculine man want to wear heels? They look disgusting and insane.
gregg2010
If you remember the film “Cruising,” there was indeed a scene with men in leather and make up wearing high heels. Actually, I think the hot guy in the photo in leather and heels is really HOT.
KevInSD
gregg2010 – Your defense of this weirdo is to point to a fictional movie from 38 years ago which focused on depraved, violent sexual subcultures? Not a great defense.
DCguy
Oh look, a Trump defending screename is horrified by some guy in heels.
Creamsicle
Not that it’s necessarily relevant, but high heels were originally designed for men. Social mores change over time, but that’s not the feel this bar was going for, so whatevs.
Paco
It doesn’t bother me what anyone else is wearing. I bet his calves are sexy after a night out in those heels though.
Vince
I think the rule is stupid but it’s their place and their rule.
Sam6969
The gay club managers perpetuate the binary stereotypes that led to homophobia, i.e. them to be discriminated and excluded elsewhere. It is just displacement.
KevInSD
That comment is incoherent.
Sam6969
…or you just did not get it…haha
Giuseppe
I remember that bar in NYC, The Lure I believe. Gay bars used to be for gay men, now the difference between a “gay” bar and a bar are miniscule: gay bars are half filled with women and their “gays”, you can’t tell the difference between the women shrieking and the men shrieking, it’s awful. A club having a dress code is up to the people that own it, there are clubs that state: “No Hats, sneakers, denim…dress to impress”, if you don’t like the policy, go someplace else and spend your money.
tennisteacher2
Every establishment has the right to set its own DRESS CODE…I think it’s unfortunate however because this could be construed as a form of discrimination
sfmike64
Queen, please.
If this was true, NONE of the bears I know would be allowed in. Cause they’re all kinda femme.
What does it even mean “femininity is not allowed?”
Toxic masculine BULLSHIT GARBAGE.
And this dude looks FUCKING HOT in those boots.
KevInSD
No one wants to see a man degrade himself like that. The bar was right to ban that guy. He needs therapy.
One other thing: Based on that pic, he is not hot. But even if he were the hottest looking guy on Earth, he would immediately become not hot by wearing women’s clothes. That tells you right away that something is broken upstairs. What is the point of being with someone who looks good on the outside, but who thinks of himself as a girl on the inside. It’s the creepiest, most off-putting thing in the world.
dwes09
Actually, your odd and overblown reaction to one man’s (at most amusing) costume indicates you might be the one to need therapy.
What exactly makes you think he thinks he is a girl inside? Do you read minds (another reason to seek professional help)?
Perhaps English is your second language? There is nothing in this quote: “If you wear heels, it doesn’t mean you’re feminine,” Vacek continues. “Who says heels are just for women? You can be masculine and super buff and wear heels. I think it’s sexier. It’s not a written rule” that implies even slightly that he thinks he is a girl inside. You are possibly projecting your fears that others see through your poorly constructed “masculine” presentation. Or you lack any intellectual rigor.
paul dorian lord fredine
how is wearing heels ‘degrading oneself’. don’t like ’em, don’t wear ’em. the rest of your comment is simply disgusting the way you you put down people just because of what they wear. i’m sure there are people who think wearing leather is in poor taste (assless chaps anyone?), or always dressing in jeans and flannel with cowboy boots. maybe wearing chinos and a polo shirt should be banned? your comment shows just what a superficial dick you are.
StraightnNarrow
Those indecently revealing leather outfits are embarrassing to most gays and border on being unacceptable to general public. It’s unfortunate that we have to put up with the weird and those men choosing to wearing heels in public.
DCguy
@KevInSD said…
“”No one wants to see a man degrade himself like that. The bar was right to ban that guy. He needs therapy. “”
———–
Funny how your statement matches so closely what people in the 1950’s attacked LGBT people with. Oh wait, that’s right you’re just another anti-LGBT screename on here to cause issues.
Lacuevaman
Thank God the sissy-ass culture is not entirely pervasive. Someone should have slapped this fool too!
dwes09
Really!? Why exactly?
Are you that much of a snowflake that someone who presents differently than you destroys your composure?
A good slap might stop your wrists from fluttering.
READ the f@@king article, stop perceiving with your imagination and assumptions. Try using your eyes and your brain, child.
Lacuevaman
dew-azz… kisses kisses
dwes09
“dew-azz”!?
You are really hell bent to demonstrate your sophomoric and dull mind to everyone!
At least you are good for a laugh.
russdog
All energy and intellect is wasted on this person. He’s a troll with nothing to contribute.
Nosso Crankee
YASSSSSSSSS!
Lacuevaman
also…. “hottie”? NOT!
Craig
The establishment has a right to have a dress code. I get that and he seems to have understood that as well based on what’s said in the article. But these comments are full of terrible people.
ShowMeGuy
In this day and age of gay clubs going under because people aren’t going out as much and when they do go out they can go to ANY club without much issue………a leather bar better think long and hard about what counts as “manly”.
Lacuevaman
huh? manly is as manly does…fool!
Paco
I disagree on the part of going to just any club without issue. The sad part is, they still need their “safe space” to have their “manly” atmosphere while being able to freely engage with one another, because straight bars will still have homophobes targeting them for abuse no matter if they are in heels or biker boots with assless chaps.
dannysax
@StraightnNarrow: You do not understand the leather scene at all. “he whole leather thing is just ridiculous. They make you look like a clown and trying too hard. ” I can tell why you chose your handle. Lack of knowledge leads to stupid comments. The leather culture has been around a long time, began with the motorcycle club scene, and is a fetish just like other fetishes you may have heard of. And it is based on safe sex practices. In fact, a lot of the leather activities are non-sexual and don’t involve penetration or exposure at all. You can have your own opinion, but it would make you look better if you do some research and questioning before spouting out such derisive comments!
Kangol
“StraightnNarrow” seems to be the new screen name for @CastleSF, who was/is a very prudish church lady self-loathing possibly gay person–or closeted priest or something–who loves to come on here and vomit out hetero- and homonormative, oppressive, antiliberationist nonsense. They claim to live in SF but had no idea what various gay public events there consisted of, and they may have been banned from here in the past, thus the new name. But it’s the same tired discourse. They also seem very worried about how things look to non-gay people. They seem trapped in a pre-Stonewall mindset. It’s sad, but more sadly, not uncommon among some gay people out there.
StraightnNarrow
Kangol, why don’t you cut your liberal mumbo jumbo like heteronormality, masculine toxicity, and gender fluid crap? There are lots of gays out there who don’t buy into this alt-left mentality and who support traditional monogamous gay marriage, not old and tired promiscuous lifestyle, who honor personal responsibility, conservative fiscal policy, and shrink bloated government social welfare system.
Paco
@StraigtnNarrow – The right doesn’t consider gay marriage to be “traditional” and they don‘t care if it is monogamous or not. It is an invalid coupling in their eyes. Also, the “fiscal-conservatives” don’t exist anymore in the Trump party and that “bloated government social welfare system” that you mention, isn’t going anywhere under the Trump party. It is being diverted from the bottom, to the top.
Ari
The club has every right to deny him entry. They are creating an atmosphere. If he wants to wear the heals elsewhere, he has every right. Can’t imagine he gets laid on those nights, however. Don’t think there would be many takers.
laidbackdude69
The blatant phobias in these comments are extreme. Throughout history, men have worn “heels” for numerous reasons. Just because the heels have gotten higher makes no difference. Saying someone’s shoes determine their masculinity is like saying someone who chooses calvin klein jeans over wranglers must be a nelly bottom. They are all stereotypes with no basis in fact. Everyone should be allowed to wear whatever they want…
seaguy
Russdog- Treasure Island does go a little off into some strange stuff at times but I think you’re being overly judgemental in calling them a meth-fueled satanic cult. And I am sure many of the guys who star in their videos and do not use meth would find it a bit offensive. as would many of the customers. I know for a fact that Dice one of their producers and directors is a recovering meth addict with several years of sobriety under his belt while working at TIM, during which he has shot many scenes and does not allow meth use in them.
russdog
I think it depends on who is in charge. There have been several regime changes there. In the early-mid 2000s Gheno seemed to be running much of the production and the vids were sleazy and hot, but not off the rails. I was actually in a few of them; not a featured model, just a faceless dick in group scenes. I even met Paul Morris. That’s why I was disappointed as the direction they took thematically once bareback became mainstream. Even reading their forum comments, fans wanted more bug-chasing scenes, stealth vids, slamming, conversion talk, etc… Too much for me.
Geeker
The fact that they use bug chasing as a fetish when the majority of their models are HIV+ and shot a scene in which a model actually uses a knife to carve Paul’s name into his chest shows that if the producers aren’t using drugs many of their models seem to be.
seaguy
Why on earth do guys want to wear heels with an otherwise sexxxy masculine outfit? Heels make your feet hurt and really are not that sexxxy on a guy, unless you’re doing drag. This whole gender fluid movement is so stupid. I don’t believe that someone can wake up and choose what gender they will be that day like they chose what to wear. Not sure that is what he was doing but still he should have left the heels at home he looks much hotter in a pair of boots with a bit of a heel.
Ari
I agree completely.
misterjack
He should have worn the heels with the red harness.
Nosso Crankee
And delicate little red lace gloves, ta boot…???
QueerTruth
House rules are house rules… But this whole conversation about feminine and masculine is ridiculous and frankly laughable. You’re queer. Grow up!
Paco
Exactly. They seem to forget that the homophobes make no distinction between our different sub cultures and archetypes. We are all just queers to them.
As far as dress codes are concerned, I am ok with them as long as they are only implemented to create a certain themed look for the event, or a uniform standard of dress.
Ashke113
Pavel Vacek is just a whiney little bitch with his making a big deal about this crap. If you are going to a BEAR CLUB you should know better than to wear something made for women. The fact that he was able to get some idiot to even report it shows he is clearly only about attention and nothing else, and like a good portion of the gay community is vain shallow and always looking to be offended. Put your heels away and wear men’s shoes next time you decide to go to that club dumbass……
Geeker
So a guy who is obviously not a bear is mad because a club for bears wouldn’t allow him in because he was not adhering to their dress code? Are all porn stars this entitled or just this twit?
surreal33
The media both gay and straight media are working overtime to SHOVE feminization down the throats of gay men. It is about time there was resistance to this tired, one-sided, cartoonish, characterization of gay men. If you want be a flaming, weak, trivial, FEM BOT great! DO NOT expect every other gay man to fall in line.
GayVeteranUSAF
If the dress code is suit and tie then when an f’ing suit and tie. The club is a private business, if he only wants people wearing purple shirts well that’s his perogative.
ShavinMcCrotch
Yes, those heels are inexplicably sexy AF, but the club rules state nothing feminine allowed.
If high heels aren’t feminine, than what is?
To say they aren’t necessarily fem bcz anyone can wear them is saying wigs, bras, perfume, dresses, and lipstick aren’t fem either.
By that logic, the only thing that qualifies as feminine is a uterus.
Sorry, Sexy. They don’t want your heels, but they’re always welcome at my place, with a continental breakfast.
dubstepskater94
I tried putting on a drag queen friends high heels once ( just for the hell of it)… ended up falling on my ass… Props to this (or any) guy who can wear them. NOW, i believe that the club wasn’t entirely outta line with their dress code, it’s their choice (but that does limit some of their attendees). I’ve been told @ a club before that I was dressed inappropriately (guess they didn’t like me showing off so much skin) and they even told me that it was for my own safety. My safety? From what? Lol. Bottom line: I went back to my condo, put on a shirt and jeans that wasn’t so ripped, came back, paid my $20, and enjoyed myself that night.