Gay man kicked out of Vegas pool party over swimwear and another is pushed off podium for being male

A gay man is claiming he was discriminated against after he was kicked out of a Las Vegas pool party for wearing what management said was ‘inappropriate swimwear’. 

Chris Donohoe was partying in the popular Encore Beach Club at Wynn Las Vegas on Saturday when he was approached by security. 

Donohoe, who was wearing a $98 pair of Mr Turk swim briefs, was escorted out of the club and told he would have to leave if he did not cover up.

‘I was kicked out for being a gay man wearing a bathing suit that was just a little too gay for the Encore Beach Club to tolerate,’ he wrote on Facebook. 

Donohoe, who was wearing a $98 pair of Mr Turk swim briefs, was escorted out of the area and told he would have to leave if he did not cover up

Chris Donohoe was partying in the popular Encore Beach Club at Wynn Las Vegas on Saturday when he was asked to leave the pool party because of his ‘inappropriate swimwear’ 

After posting his complaints on Facebook Donohoe was contacted by another gay man, Juan Casado who said he had also been discriminated against at the venue.

Casado shared a video with Donohoe that shows him being pushed off a dance platform in the pool by a security guard while showing off his moves.

He was later told that only women were allowed to dance on the podium.

‘I saw your post and I just want to say that I have been discriminated there as well,’ Casado wrote to Donohoe. 

‘Not for being gay (even though I am) but the double standard of being male or female.’ 

Juan Casado shared a video with Donohoe that shows him being pushed off a dance platform at the Encore pool by a security guard while showing off his moves

Casado was later told that only women were allowed to dance on the podium

Juan Casado shared a video with Donohoe that shows him being pushed off a dance platform at the Encore pool by a security guard while showing off his moves

Donohue said two men laughed at him from the deck just minutes before he was removed from the Encore pool party.

Security was allegedly acting on a complaint they had received at the pool. 

‘I didn’t even say anything to [my friend] Veselka because I’m so f*****g used to this s**t,’ Donohoe said in a Facebook video explaining the incident. 

‘Two men, walking by me, laughing at me, pointing and laughing at what I was wearing – which I think is fab, by the way.’   

Donohoe also filmed his confrontation with the general manager, who told Donohoe that his swimwear attire was not ‘in integrity’ with the pool party’s brand.

‘As far as I understand the policy is no Speedos, and this is not a Speedo,’ Donohoe can be heard telling the manager, who is off-camera, in the video. 

‘I would just like to have the same rules as everyone else,’ he continues. ‘This is not a Speedo. I would love to go in there with all the other people not wearing Speedos.’ 

‘You’re more than welcome as long as you put your shorts on,’ the manager tells him. 

Donohoe has claimed the pool party was discriminating against him because he is gay

He said two men pointed and laughed at him just 10 minutes before he was removed from the pool

Donohoe has claimed the pool party was discriminating against him because he is gay. He said two men pointed and laughed at him just 10 minutes before he was removed from the pool 

Encore has since added a line to its dress code policy (pictured) stating that management has the right to 'determine appropriate attire' 

Encore has since added a line to its dress code policy (pictured) stating that management has the right to ‘determine appropriate attire’ 

‘But it doesn’t sound like I’m allowed to wear this – which is not a Speedo – because I’m a gay man, because this is too much skin,’ Donohoe continues. 

‘This has nothing to do with your sexual preferences,’ the manager responds. 

‘Then why is this the rule?’ Donohoe asks. ‘What about this is not in integrity with your brand?’ Donohoe asks. 

‘Because we have a dress code which says what you can and cannot wear,’ the manager replies. 

Encore’s dress code states that guests must ‘dress to impress’ and that ‘pool attire is required to enter the venue’.  

Speedos are not listed under the policy’s ‘prohibited apparel’, which includes no undergarments, no see-through bathing suits, and no torn or cut-off clothing. 

One line in the policy notes that ‘no risqué or indecent swimwear is permitted’ and that ‘management reserves all rights to determine appropriate attire’.

But Michael Weaver, the CMO of Wynn Resorts, revealed this is a new policy the hotel will now enforce after the incident with Donohue. 

Donohoe was told by the pool party's security management that his swimwear attire was not 'in integrity' with the pool party's brand

Donohoe said that, after posting about the incident, he has heard stories from a number of gay men who experienced discrimination at the pool party

Donohoe was told by the pool party’s security management that his swimwear attire was not ‘in integrity’ with the pool party’s brand

‘In the Encore Beach Club, we have a policy, clearly posted at the entrance, which prohibited Speedos,’ he told Yahoo! 

‘Upon receiving a guest complaint, we reviewed the policy and have changed it. The new policy will allow Speedos, but will prohibit risqué and indecent swimwear for both men and women.’ 

Donohoe said the entire incident made him feel 'completely powerless' and that he does not plan to visit Encore ever again

Donohoe said the entire incident made him feel ‘completely powerless’ and that he does not plan to visit Encore ever again

‘We will include the new policy on entry signage, as well as the club website, in order to help guests plan appropriately and enjoy a welcoming environment.’ 

‘We apologize to the guest who was affected by our previous policy.’ 

Weaver went on to say that the hotel has appreciated all of its LGBTQ+ guests ‘for years’.  

‘Decisions to enforce policies are solely based on guest behavior, or in this case, attire,’ he said in the statement. 

‘We have always and will continue to apply attire policies equally to all of our guests, regardless of sexual orientation.’     

Donohoe said the entire incident made him feel ‘completely powerless’ and that he does not plan to visit Encore ever again. 

‘There are places all over this country where I’m accepted, where I can wear my Mr Turk bathing suit – which is fierce AF, I mean come on look at it,’ he said in one video.

‘There are places where I don’t have to put up with this s**t. So if you’re a gay man and thinking about wearing your fabulous brief bathing suits, put your money somewhere purple, put your money somewhere pink, don’t put it here.’ 

‘Because you’re not welcome here actually – that was the message I was very clearly told today when I was removed from the pool.’ 



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