One of the forgotten voices in the debate over the public financing of the proposed South Capitol Street baseball stadium is the gay community. Down that way are a number of gay-oriented businesses, just a stones throw from Capitol Hill on the other side of the Southeast Freeway in an area made of mainly of warehouses, empty lots.
The Blade writes that “[t]hree gay bars and three gay adult entertainment businesses, including a video arcade and burlesque theater, are located on the site where the stadium is to be built.” (This DCist photo from the vicinity of N Street SE shows where the proposed stadium would go.)
And where will they go? Nobody knows for sure and the fear that zoning regulations could be used against them in any relocation. D.C.’s openly gay councilmembers, Jim Graham (D) and David Catania (I) voted against the stadium measure. Graham told the Blade that he would “go to bat” for the threatened businesses, but didn’t give details as how he would get the District Council to help the businesses relocate.
