Puerto Vallarta club sanctioned for discrimination against gays

‘La Santa’ club in Puerto Vallarta was sanctioned for removing two gay clients that had kissed and embraced in the club on July 19, 2014.

A bouncer at the bar allegedly asked the couple to leave the bar because displays of affection were only allowed by heterosexual couples. The couple refused to leave the bar stating the bar did not have the legal right to have them removed. Later the same evening another bar employ asked the couple to leave again. When asked to speak to the manager the employee had the couple physically removed from the bar.

Mexico law protects the names and identities of people who file discrimination complaints. It is unknown if the couple were male or female, or if they were tourists or Mexican nationals.

The National Council to Prevent Discrimination (CONAPRED) stated the club was in violation of Mexico’s anti-discrimination laws and ordered the club to present a formal apology in writing to the customers, place a sign in their establishment informing customers of anti-discrimination laws in Mexico, implement a company policy of anti-discrimination by physical appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or other prohibited grounds. The club is also ordered to participate in anti-discrimination PSA’s through social media and their websites.

There have been 15 sanctioned businesses in Mexico for discrimination homosexuals this year, including businesses in Sonora, Nuevo Leon, Colima, Mexico City, Baja California, Aguascalientes, Quintana Roo, Chiapas and Michoaca.