Beatriz Alvarado | Corpus Christi

Isabel Ortiz, 25, was a regular at Whiskey River until she learned about the nightclub's dress code, which she referred to as a "double standard."

Ortiz, who is a lesbian, dresses in men's clothes and would go to the club two to four times per week depending on her work schedule, she said.

Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-TImes

Unlike Bobby Rodriguez, who said he was denied entry for wearing lipstick and fake eyelashes, she's never had a problem at the door, she said.

"What's changed is my awareness (of) the way they treat other people," Ortiz said. "I would not want to contribute to a double standard."

Ortiz was among the about a dozen people who protested outside the country-themed nightclub Thursday evening. The nightclub is facing backlash over what one activist called its "homophobic" dress code.

Angela Blohm is registered as the nightclub's owner in the state's business directory. She expressed fear of retaliation but defended the business' policy.

Last week, Blohm referred to Rodriguez's allegations as "just a bunch of frivolous baloney," adding that although a "gender appropriate" dress code is in place at the business there is no way to prove the encounter took place.

"Whiskey River has a standard dress code that states everyone must dress gender appropriate to the gender stated on their state-issued driver's license," Blohm told the Caller-Times last week.

Beatriz Alvarado/Caller-Times

The nightclub's DJ and manager Twinky Gallegos parked his pickup truck in front of the doors and hung a large Texas flag, as well as a Whiskey River flag, on the bed of his truck. He also hooked up large speakers and blasted "Why Can't We Be Friends" by War and "It's Raining Men" by the Weather Girls, among other songs.

Whiskey River employees also posted no trespassing signs outside shortly before the scheduled protest.

Contributed

Gallegos said the policy was created after the nightclub was sued when a transgender woman was assaulted after visiting the club.

"We had to pay her bills and his legal defense," Gallegos said.

"In our line of work anything could happen in there and once you step through that door you're our responsibility," he said.

Gallegos said the gender-specific dress code protects customers.

Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times

"Our customers love the fact that they can feel safe in here."

The Protest Of Transphobic/Homophobic Policies At Whiskey River on Thursday was led by Kathy Huff, a Corpus Christi transgender activist.

She doesn't see the dress code as a "viable solution" for preventing violence in a bar, she said.

"It wasn't the trans woman's fault. It's not our fault," Huff said. "It's just not right to exclude an entire group of people from establishments just because you might get sued if they get hit."

Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times

Federal law does not prevent businesses from refusing service to customers based on sexual orientation. Some states and cities provide those protections for residents.

Texas and Corpus Christi don't.

Huff said she led the protest because it's the only recourse available to challange discriminatory practices.

Changing one's gender on a birth certificate and ID can be very expensive and the process can be daunting.

"It can run you upt to $1,000 in attorney fees and court costs," Huff said. "In Texas, you need a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria.

"So its not fair, a lot of people can’t."

"I don’t think I'm going to get (Whiskey River) to change the policy, but I want the public to know so they can choose to patronize (the business) or not," Huff said.

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Hours before the protest, Whiskey River asked supporters for a 5-star rating on their Facebook page.

"I urge everyone who believes business owners have the right to refuse service to anyone and enforce whatever dress code they see fit, even if it offends someone, to go give Whiskey River’s page a 5-star rating," the post reads.

Whiskey River's rating on Facebook as of Thursday was 3.4 stars. The page's 5-star reviews jumped from 362 Thursday afternoon to 534 by the evening. The 1-star reviews went from 253 to 357 in the same time frame. The written reviews reflect the polarizing issue.

Bobby Rodriguez did not attend Thursday's protest but expressed support for those who did.

"I'm glad that they are doing what they believe in, whatever it takes," Rodriguez said. "Equality is a right not a privilege."

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