9/12 was my final night DJing at Saloon for the foreseeable future.
For two years I’ve spun multiple weekends each month, including headlining the 2025 Pride Main Stage. I built nights where younger Black queer people could feel seen and where all queer folks could experience joy.
Thank you to Bobby, the entire bar and security staff, and every patron who came out specifically when I played. Your support helped me earn a reputation for kindness, humor, and genuine connection.
But I will not continue while Chris Bock (Saloon’s CFO) and the racist patrons he enables threaten that safety. Screenshots show where two things are highlighted for me in particular:
• Chris sent a written threat to “come down there and make it happen” over a simple no requests sign.
• I can’t help but feel this is retaliation after I formally reported these racial incidents to management as well as publicly shamed a disrespectful patron.
None of this is a misunderstanding. It’s a pattern of racism and disrespect at a venue that markets itself as queer-inclusive.
*Why This Is Dangerous*
In a world already divided and volatile, Chris Bock’s behavior as a cis-het white man in charge of a queer space sends the worst possible message. By threatening me, dismissing racist incidents, and gutting or flat-out banning events that aren’t catered to cis white patrons, Saloon signals that blatant disrespect, racism, and prejudice are acceptable as long as profits continue. That choice does more than harm me—it endangers the safety and dignity of the entire queer community Saloon claims to serve.
*My Impact*
I am directly responsible for shifting Saloon’s demographics by bringing culture to the dance floor—curating inclusive sets beyond the usual Top 40 and circuit-party mixes. My work drew a broader, more diverse crowd and helped transform the space into something richer and more representative of our whole community.
*A Note to My Fellow DJs*
To every DJ who shares the booth with me across the Twin Cities: I will never ask you to break contracts or sacrifice income in 2025’s uncertain economy.
What I do ask is solidarity. Post your own variations of the “No Requests” sign as a quiet but powerful stand. Each of you is brilliant—even those I may have clashed with in the past.
This isn’t about old disagreements. It’s about being treated with dignity and respect and making sure we are paid our worth. Period.
*A Note to Saloon’s Patrons*
To everyone who has danced, celebrated, or simply sought refuge at Saloon: you deserve better, too. No one should have their need for community exploited for profit while management allows assaults, harassment, and prejudice to go unchallenged. Many of us carry our own stories of harm in that space. Please use this post to share your experiences and to name what you would like to see changed in order to feel safe. Your voices are vital to this boycott and to building the inclusive, accountable nightlife we all deserve.
*Our Demands*
Until these are met, I’d like to call on all those that support the boycott of Saloon to demand the following:
1. Racial equity & safety: A clearly posted, strictly enforced zero-tolerance policy against racism, harassment, and prejudice—online, at the door, and throughout events.
2. Public apology: A formal apology to Black patrons, DJs, and staff harmed by racist behavior and management’s inaction.
3. Fair pay: A minimum $100/hour for every DJ, reflecting the revenue DJs create. Saloon earns enough during Pride to cover a year of rent and pays staff via liquor sales; it can afford fair wages.
4. True inclusion: More than an updated Pride flag. Programming and events must be properly promoted, organized, and supported—with all featured talent paid a fair wage that reflects the drink revenue they generate.
*Public Accountability Invitation*
Chris Bock told me I am “not allowed back into the building until we have an in-person meeting—if at all.” I welcome accountability and challenge Chris to a public, community town hall to discuss these issues openly. If he truly believes I am in the wrong, let’s meet in front of the people this venue claims to serve—DJs, patrons, staff, and the wider Twin Cities queer community—so everyone can hear the facts, ask questions, and help shape the next steps. Anything less is avoidance, not accountability.
Saloon profits from Black queer culture. They can—and must—invest in our dignity, safety, and artistry.
This is a call to action for the Twin Cities queer community and allies:
No gigs. No drinks. No cover charge. No excuses—until Saloon meets these demands.
#BoycottSaloon #RacialEquityNow #PayYourDJs #QueerSpacesForAll