Houston’s clubs and dance halls will now be required to post their dress codes at the door after two city officials were denied entry to an area club over a pair of tennis shoes.
Pollard brought forward the proposal to the council’s July 9 meeting after he and Controller Chris Hollins tried to get into a club but were denied entry at first because of Hollins’ Nikes.
Hollins and Pollard were eventually granted entry after lengthy discussions with the club’s staff, and discovered there were people inside who were also wearing tennis shoes.
Lack of transparency and discrimination surrounding dress codes have been a point of contention in Houston for years, council members said.
Patrons at the now-closed Turkey Leg Hut were met with a dress code years ago that banned "excessively revealing clothing,” along with du-rags and wave caps in a move some critics said was “anti-Black.”
The proposal would require clubs and dance halls that have dress codes to post them clearly at the front entrance to avoid any ambiguity and increase transparency about what patrons are and are not allowed to wear. It was co-signed by Council Members Letitia Plummer and Carolyn Evans-Shabazz under Proposition A.
The proposal was met with some debate when it was first introduced. Some council members shared stories about their experiences with dress codes and supported the possible ordinance change, while others worried it infringed on the rights of private businesses to let in who they wanted.
Two of those same council members – Council Members Mary Nan Huffman and Fred Flickinger – voted no on the proposal. Huffman was firm in her belief the ordinance would be government overreach and result in consequences like losing patrons and revenue.
The Greater Houston Restaurant Association was one of the groups that was integral in the proposal’s week-long delay after the brought forward concerns about enforcement. Pollard said Wednesday his team has been in touch with the association to alleviate concerns.
Pollard brought forward the proposal to the council’s July 9 meeting after he and Controller Chris Hollins tried to get into a club but were denied entry at first because of Hollins’ Nikes.
Hollins and Pollard were eventually granted entry after lengthy discussions with the club’s staff, and discovered there were people inside who were also wearing tennis shoes.
Lack of transparency and discrimination surrounding dress codes have been a point of contention in Houston for years, council members said.
Patrons at the now-closed Turkey Leg Hut were met with a dress code years ago that banned "excessively revealing clothing,” along with du-rags and wave caps in a move some critics said was “anti-Black.”
The proposal would require clubs and dance halls that have dress codes to post them clearly at the front entrance to avoid any ambiguity and increase transparency about what patrons are and are not allowed to wear. It was co-signed by Council Members Letitia Plummer and Carolyn Evans-Shabazz under Proposition A.
The proposal was met with some debate when it was first introduced. Some council members shared stories about their experiences with dress codes and supported the possible ordinance change, while others worried it infringed on the rights of private businesses to let in who they wanted.
Two of those same council members – Council Members Mary Nan Huffman and Fred Flickinger – voted no on the proposal. Huffman was firm in her belief the ordinance would be government overreach and result in consequences like losing patrons and revenue.
The Greater Houston Restaurant Association was one of the groups that was integral in the proposal’s week-long delay after the brought forward concerns about enforcement. Pollard said Wednesday his team has been in touch with the association to alleviate concerns.
