A gay man is accusing a Las Vegas hotel of homophobia after he was politely asked to leave the pool for violating its “no speedo” policy.
Chris Donohoe claims he was kicked out of the pool at the Wynn Las Vegas for wearing a yellow Mr. Turk swimsuit. The hotel manager said the swimsuit was not “in integrity” with the pool’s brand, but Donohoe begs to differ.
“I was kicked out for being a gay man wearing a bathing suit that was just a little too gay for the The Beach Club Encore Las Vegas to tolerate,” he says in a recent Facebook post.
Donohoe shared a video of himself arguing with the manager over his attire, or lack thereof.
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“As far as I understand the policy says no speedos and this is not a speedo,” Donahue can be heard arguing. “Technically, and even just realistically, this is not a speedo.”
“This has nothing to do with your sexual preference,” the manager calmly responds later in the video. “It’s just a rule.”
https://www.facebook.com/TopherDean/videos/10105068325841185/
The Oxford English Dictionary defines a “speedo” as “Men’s brief, tight swimming trunks.”
Donahoe claims he was wearing “swim briefs.”
“This is what homophobia looks like,” he writes on Facebook. “I was up all night because I couldn’t sleep from being so upset. I’ve cried so much. At the end of the day it is ABUNDANTLY clear that LGBTQ+ people are not welcome at Wynn Las Vegas.”
In a second video posted to Facebook, he bemoans: “The thing that really upsets me about this is there were women with their titties out everywhere, which I support and endorse, but as soon as a man shows up looking gay AF they’re told ‘no, you don’t belong here.’”
Encore Beach Club’s official dress code reads:
Dress to impress, no baggy clothing, jeans, or basketball shorts. Pool attire is required to enter the venue. No risqué or indecent swimwear is permitted; management reserves all rights to determine appropriate attire. Proper swim attire includes: Swimming suits.
All entry is based on management’s discretion. Any person who refuses to comply with any regulation governing public bathing or swimming facility or any rule of that facility must be excluded from the premises.
In response to the incident, Michael Weaver, CMO at Wynn Resorts, released the following statement:
In order to maintain a five-star experience, Wynn Las Vegas requests that guests adhere to certain dress code policies throughout the resort. In the Encore Beach Club, we had a policy, clearly posted at the entrance, which prohibited Speedos. Upon receiving a guest complaint, we reviewed the policy and have changed it. The new policy will allow Speedos, but will prohibit risqué and indecent swimwear for both men and women. We will include the new policy on entry signage, as well as the club website, in order to help guests plan appropriately and enjoy a welcoming environment. We apologize to the guest who was affected by our previous policy.
Regarding LGBTQ+ guests, our policy has been clear and consistent for years: Wynn welcomes and appreciates all of our LGBTQ+ guests. Decisions to enforce policies are solely based on guest behavior, or in this case, attire. We have always and will continue to apply attire policies equally to all of our guests, regardless of sexual orientation.
Wynn Resorts has a 100% approval rating on the HRC’s Corporate Equality Index, as well as an in-house diversity council and an LGBTQ focus group. You can read about the company’s diversity and inclusion efforts HERE.
Look, we’re all for calling out homophobia… when it’s justified. And while the hotel’s “no speedo” policy was definitely dumb, we’re not sure we’d classify it as being antigay. What do you think? Take our poll below.
Vince
Oh hunty. That’s clearly a speedo and it’s their rule. Now go away.
moolahmike
I have stayed there, but I won’t anymore
uncz1978
Amen
UCSBGRAD
I agree. They weren’t being homophobic it was their policy and they changed it. It was a stupid policy as I hardly doubt that any girl with her nipples covered would be deemed appropriate.
Vince
“I was up all night because I couldn’t sleep from being so upset. I’ve cried so much.”
and that beard makes you look so butch too. Lol
jkb
His case would have been stronger had he just went a bought another “acceptable” swimwear since being in a five star hotel would indicate the cost of this being insignificant, and then see how they responded upon his return. Instead, he creates this drama and loses sleep because he didn’t get his way.
On a more positive note, all Speedo wearing guests going forward will appreciate his hissy fit having changed the rules. So, I guess he did good?
tham
I hate speedos.
I think they make every guy look desperate…and small.
armandov
I agree. I think they look tacky just like thongs do (on either women or men)
mujerado
You’re both certainly entitled to your opinion, but as long as they’re within a dress code you’ll just have to suffer in silence.
OzJosh
But people who like men and are comfortable with bodies think they are super hot.
fuzzywuzznt
says the guy with the little dick
Raphael
Yes, it’s a Speedo, still, he has a point! The only reason they are not allowed, as he said, is because it’s considered “too much skin” for males. I don’t think they kick out women wearing bikinis, which are a lot smaller than a Speedo…
ShowMeGuy
Still isn’t “homophobic”.
luvit00
how is the act of wearing a “speedo” exclusively gay? I’m gay and could wear a “speedo” but choose not to but have friends that are straight and wear at least tight “speedo” type swimwear… queen, sit down, not everything is homophobia!
uncz1978
I’ve been on the Italian side of Carnival. Never saw so many speedos in my like. The bad thing was they were on 60 plus men with beer guts
AndThenTheresMax
Chris (the guy in the video) listen up! I am YOUR QUEEN of inappropriate and couture swim wear. Honey, you are not going to win this battle! Here’s why. Read what the policy says, “At the manager’s discretion.” I’ve been to several top hotels with gorgeous pools and done my best Naomi Campbell runway walk complete with designer shades, working my tiny little cut out, designer, “you will never have this because it’s couture” swimsuit (that shows off my package far too much) out to a round of applause gay and straight. Like I was on the catwalk during a Versace show….AND THEN!
As I get to the edge of the pool the manager comes running out yelling, “You can wear that here.” Now at first I was all Naomi angry screaming, “This f**king swimsuit costs more than you make in one day! How dare you tell me (in my affronted European accent) what to wear?!” Here’s the reason why hotels have that policy. It’s not for JUST YOU it’s for straight women as well.
Coming behind me was the ghetto version of I’ll Kim in her tiny THONG swimsuit, working her GIGANTIC BOOTY and no bikini top (she was wearing tonnes, and honey when I mean tonnes I MEAN TONNES) of glitter necklaces with her top barely covering her huge fake boobs. Apparently, Ms. Wannabe I’ll Kim saw the round of applause I got going out to the pool so she thought it was her turn.
The manager leaned over to me and hissed, “Help me out here queen! If I say yes to you, I can’t stop her. I’ll make it worth your while in bar credits.” So I pulled my best Naomi went back and said, “Alright I’ll change this was just a runway piece anyway.” I returned into something with a bit more fabric and less, uh, Naomi. That gave the manager to license to zoom in on wannabe and send her packing with tears in her eyes.
The moral of the story, don’t fight it. Because if the manager allows you to do it, you don’t know what you are opening the swimwear Pandora’s box to next. Just change into something with a bit more fabric and enjoy the day. Save the “I’m Woman! Hear Me Roar!” speech for something more important.
And this is coming from YOUR LEADER who made wearing: expensive, tiny, cut out in all the right places, “it’s right off the runway from Paris” swimwear a style statement which make ugly wives nervous, and gave hot husbands a hard-on; an art form in the 90s to today. TRUST ME! It’s not worth the fight…
thisisnotreal
I don’t know who you are max but we need to be best friends right now lol. Your just the right blend of sassy gay I need in my life
Hussain-TheCanadian
Get out of the pool queen, I wouldn’t want to see your fury nuts UNLESS you’re Henry Cavil.
lkalvin
No, it’s not directly homophobic. Chances are it impacts more gay men because we tend to be a bit more varied in our attire. It is however discriminatory to have gender-specific dress requirements – we really just need to get over this. If you don’t approve of men showing as much flesh as women and think this should be enforced then you are, by definition, in favour of sexual discrimination.
Giuseppe
Boo hoo. That’s clearly a speedo (even if it’s not the SPEEDO brand) STOP making everything a “they are against gays” issue and grow up. The swim suit is ugly, I have no clue why the gays are SO attached to this, there’s nowhere to put your “keys” and 75% of the guys wearing them shouldn’t be. Enough.
uncz1978
Amen, LMBO
heckles202
Who the fuck died and made you queen bitch!? We don’t need your approval hunty!
Geeker
What a shrieking dumbass!
darkanser
I personally stopped wearing speedos or tight shorts when I realized people were whispering and/or making unsolicited remarks about my package. And when you’re emerging from a pool or body of water it’s impossible to hide it unless you’re wearing a jockstrap or something underneath. However, that’s rarely an issue now since I’ve made a full 180 and go to clothing optional beaches now. That hasn’t helped in the comment area, however.
darkanser
He sounds like he’s arguing that it’s not a BRAND speedo swimsuit which, of course, is totally missing the point.
Curtispsf
Don’t expect management to discriminate between genuine Speedos and your “Turks and Caicos” brand, girlfriend. If it looks like a duck…And besides, it IS ugly and doesn’t present your bulge in a flattering manner.
mujerado
Your post is right on, except for the last sentence, which is just your opinion. Some people don’t think anyone but models should show skin at all. Thankfully, those people can’t tell the rest of us to cover up. If you don’t like what you see, just stop looking!
moolahmike
S.Wynn is to republican to allow speedos, No europeans there?
david-tullis
There is absolutely nothing wrong with his choice of swim wear. He should have been left alone then – and he should be left alone now.
justyouandi
To compare a woman’s bikini bottom to a man in a speedo type suit is way off. A woman’s sexual organs are on the inside of her body, but a man’s are outside his body …… way outside! A man in a tiny bathing suit could be seen as sexually aggressive, and it can make some women uncomfortable, especially if they have experienced unwanted sexual advances in the past. Also, it’s understandable that many parents wouldn’t want their small children to have …… that much information yet.
jaack
Are women’s nipples on the inside??? Think not. But when the top of a woman’s suit leaves nothing to the imagination! Men run these casinos and set the rules & want as much female skin visible as possible. The complainers are men in casino management not bathers.
justyouandi
We all have nipples, jaack; male and female alike. The counterpart to the vagina is the penis. If a woman were exposing her vagina at a public pool I don’t doubt that management would object to it.
heckles202
You can see bulges in sweatpants, gym shorts and skinny jeans. So, no, try again!
Doug
Why is the media so focused on this guy? It was all over the internet news sites last night and it’s embarrassing to watch.
jaack
This rule is CLEARLY aimed at men and ONLY men. Women come to the pool with a suit no bigger than a G-String up their butt crack and near nothing covering vaginas or nipples, we have a discrimination against men, gay or not!
DuMaurier
I don’t think a comparison between women and men makes sense here; we all know the standards are different THERE. This is about a dumb rule (which has apparently since been modified) that no one has shown has anything to do with sexual orientation, which is the complaint.
Seamus66
This guy is just an embarrassment to himself. Wants his 15min. And what the hell was the “I’m white but can’t use my power” bs? Sounds like someone is a tad racist. And I saw the other article about him. He’s tried this before, obv. He’s had his 15. Move along, nothing to see here…
Seamus66
Sorry, my bad the quote was in the other article,
‘He continued: “I’m a white guy and I have power in society and I still felt completely powerless.””
Seamus66
The other article.
https://www.queerty.com/man-cried-homophobia-kicked-pool-history-making-accusations-20180808
Brian
The rule might be better described as “sexist.” They’re following a cultural standard that says men shouldn’t show skin, but women can (and should) show a lot.
I used to work for a company that allowed women to have as many visible piercings as they wanted, anywhere on their body, but men couldn’t have a single piercing at all. So we had women with rings and jangles all up and down their ears, but even one subtle stud on a man’s earlobe would’ve been banned. It didn’t make a lot of sense, but that’s just American culture today.
djmcgamester
It is definitely a speedo, even if it doesn’t have the brand name. It is, however, a stupid policy. In lots of places in Europe it’s normal swimwear. Yes, fathers will wear them around their children.
JaredNorthcutt30
I’m gonna break it down for you, honey. Titties are not equal to genitalia. Titties equal nipples. Nipple = nipple
ShaunNJ
I think Donohoe makes a good point – the policy is unequally enforced and subjective. Women wear all types of skimpy bikinis and thongs with the cheeks exposed, plunging cleavage or side boobs, but a man in a speedo – unacceptable. It also sounds like the policy is subjective: “dress to impress”? What does that mean? What impresses me will be different than my straight colleague. Indecent or risque may be interpreted differently based on the standards of the beholder. I wear tight square cut / sunga swimsuits – is that allowed? The fairest way to ensure compliance and not offend is a posted sign with examples of what’s acceptable and not.
ShowMeGuy
Chris Donohoe must have received too many participation trophies when he was a kid.
Chipper
If his speedo had more material that the women’s bikini’s, then they should go.