Jake's on Fourth reopened covered in rainbows, heavily promoting drag to launch their bar. They used LGBTQ+ culture and performers to get customers through the doors.

Once established, they pushed drag out.

Drag performers were promised shows and payment. Behind the scenes, ownership opposed drag from the start. Shows were cancelled. Payments weren't made until public outcry. Artists and workers who gave hundreds of hours and their own money still haven't been paid.

When performers spoke out, Jake's called them "disgruntled" and threatened legal action.

This is pinkwashing: profiting off LGBTQ+ culture, then discarding us when we're no longer convenient.

We are calling for one of two actions regarding Jake's:

1. Authentic Community Engagement: Jake's must:

• Publicly apologize to the community detailing exactly what they did and how they plan to address reparations

• all owners will hold a listening session with Queer community leaders, to discuss harm done to the community and steps to come back from it. - bring back drag events on weekends with the people that were harmed.

• Prevent Matt Acker from engaging with queer customers due to his history of homophobia and transphobia, ensuring Jake's becomes a truly committed queer space. He should be a silent partner.

Or

2. End Harmful Practices: If Jake's cannot commit to this, they must:

• Cease pink-washing and stop profiting from the queer community while disrespecting its culture.

• Stop leaning in to and the appropriation of the legacy of Jake’s queer identity.

• Create a new venue that reflects their values without appropriating the legacy of Jake’s, which they no longer honor, thus preserving a vital part of queer history.

Until then, we boycott Jake's on Fourth.

Sign to demand accountability from Olympia's LGBTQ+ community.