Transgender army vet denied women’s restroom at Cuba Libra restaurant

A transgender US Army veteran says she was ‘forcibly removed’ from a Washington, D.C. restaurant during Pride Month after she refused to show her ID to use the women’s bathroom.

Charlotte Clymer was out celebrating for a friend’s bachelorette party on Friday, June 22 at Cuba Libre. Writing in a Twitter thread that has gone viral, Charlotte explained how when she went to use the restroom in the establishment, she was physically stopped by an attendant who demanded her ID to prove it said ‘female’.

When she refused to hand it over, citing a law that says this action was illegal, she was followed into the bathroom and eventually escorted out of the restaurant by force.

Discrimination: Charlotte Clymer, a transgender US Army veteran, was enjoying a friend’s bachelorette party at Cuba Libre in Washington, D.C. when the fun was brought to a halt

Thread time: She took to Twitter to share her account of what happened at the restaurant

Thread time: She took to Twitter to share her account of what happened at the restaurant

Noteworthy: Her story about the Cuban restaurant and bar has since gone viral 

Noteworthy: Her story about the Cuban restaurant and bar has since gone viral 

‘Last night, I was told by the manager of @CubaLibreDC that I couldn’t use the women’s restroom, and after challenging his discrimination with D.C. law and responding to his threat of calling the police w/ “please do so”, I was forcibly removed from the restaurant,’ Charlotte began her thread on Saturday.

‘I was there w/ a large group of girlfriends. We’re having a bachelorette weekend for my good friend @emilycrockett, and first on our list was a dance party being held at @CubaLibreDC. Everyone had a great time. Lots of dancing and drinking and hanging out with great people.

I go into a stall to do my business, and I hear him walk in and search for me in this busy restroom full of women

‘Near the end our time there, I went to use the restroom with my friend and before I reached the door, an attendant stuck out his arm and said he needed to see my ID. When I asked why, he said that “female” must be on an ID to use the women’s restroom. No one else was asked. 

‘This is a packed hallway in a packed club/restaurant, and this random staff person specifically picks me out to ask for ID. I told him that’s nonsense, turned on my heel, and continued into the restroom. My friend is telling him that he’s making a mistake. 

‘I go into a stall to do my business, and I hear him walk in and search for me in this busy restroom full of women. He is doing everything but opening the stall doors. I ignore him, and after a few moments, he leaves. I do my business, wash my hands, and walk out. 

Promising beginnings: Charlotte said her group was having a great time, drinking and dancing, before things went south

Promising beginnings: Charlotte said her group was having a great time, drinking and dancing, before things went south

Stop: After some time, she went to use the women's restroom — which is when a male attendant blocked her and demanded to see her ID

Stop: After some time, she went to use the women’s restroom — which is when a male attendant blocked her and demanded to see her ID

Rules: He said her ID needed to say 'female,' which she said was 'nonsense' 

Rules: He said her ID needed to say ‘female,’ which she said was ‘nonsense’ 

Barging in: Charlotte used the bathroom anyway, but says the man followed her in to look for her

Barging in: Charlotte used the bathroom anyway, but says the man followed her in to look for her

Issues: She then got into an argument with the manager, despite the fact that they were now in people's way

Issues: She then got into an argument with the manager, despite the fact that they were now in people’s way

‘On the other side of the door are the attendant and the manager, who says it’s D.C. law that you must have “female” on your ID to use the women’s restroom. I tell him he’s wrong and there’s no chance I’m showing him my ID. There are people crammed into this hallway. It’s busy. 

‘He insists I need to show my ID, I tell him that’s not happening, and demand to see what law he’s citing. He refuses to show me the law and instead says, “You being in there will make women uncomfortable.” We’re in the way of everyone, and a lot of people are watching this.  

‘I was angry and needed to cool off, so I again refuse to show him my ID and walked out of the restaurant to get my bearings. I brought up D.C.’s law regarding restrooms on my phone and walked in, straight to him, to show him how this is illegal.’ 

‘He treated me like I was being irrational, glanced over the text and said “that’s incorrect”. He continued to refuse to show this imaginary law he was citing and threatened to call the cops. I told him he should absolutely call the cops. Please do. He then said I need to leave.

‘I told him I work for the Human Rights Campaign, he’s making a mistake here, and he needs to adjust his course of action. I told him this is discrimination and said he’s being a bigot. He laughed and mocked my workplace. “Oh, I know you folks at [address].”

Making a scene: The manager insisted she have ID and told her she would make women uncomfortable

Making a scene: The manager insisted she have ID and told her she would make women uncomfortable

Breaking the law: Charlotte showed him a website explaining the DC Human Rights Act, which protects her in using the bathroom of the gender she identifies with

Breaking the law: Charlotte showed him a website explaining the DC Human Rights Act, which protects her in using the bathroom of the gender she identifies with

Digging his heels in: Despite Charlotte showing him proof, he dismissed her and talked down to her

Digging his heels in: Despite Charlotte showing him proof, he dismissed her and talked down to her

Not listening: He continued to be dismissive and rude but couldn't counter he claim with a different law

Not listening: He continued to be dismissive and rude but couldn’t counter he claim with a different law

Though they threatened to call the cops at first, Charlotte called their bluff — and then they wouldn't call the police, even though she wanted them to

Though they threatened to call the cops at first, Charlotte called their bluff — and then they wouldn’t call the police, even though she wanted them to

Pushing: A bouncer then grabbed her and forcibly removed her 

Pushing: A bouncer then grabbed her and forcibly removed her 

‘He continued to ask me to leave. I told him I’m not going anywhere until the cops are called. For several minutes near the front door, this manager continued to refuse to call the cops, his original threat, and said I need to leave.

‘A bouncer came up and said I need to be reasonable. I told him the situation and said I would not be leaving until the cops are called. No chance. I explained the law to him, and he continued his condescending plea for me to leave. He then grabbed my arm and pushed me out.

 A bouncer came up and said I need to be reasonable… He then grabbed my arm and pushed me out

‘I stood there at the curb with a friend, feeling shattered. I wanted to cry, but my adrenaline was so high at that point that I felt blocked up. Our other friends came out along with several people who had witnessed what happened.’

Charlotte said a ‘wonderful person’ named Nicole López came to speak to her. She was there with her boyfriend Edgar, a staffer for Congresswoman Norma Torres of California’s 35th congressional district.

Edgar offered help, and he and Nicole told the rest of their group — many of whom also left the restaurant.  

‘By now, all my friends were outside, and one mentioned that she had seen a non-binary person get asked for their ID almost immediately following what happened to me. And at that point, I went to a place of anger that I do not visit often. Something had to be done,’ Charlotte said.

Got you: Charlotte has received lots of support online since the incident

Got you: Charlotte has received lots of support online since the incident  

Awful: However, on that night, she was nearly brought to tears

Awful: However, on that night, she was nearly brought to tears

Kindness: However, she said, there were strangers at the restaurant who came to her aid

Kindness: However, she said, there were strangers at the restaurant who came to her aid

The whole thing went down while the restaurant was hosting a different kind of inclusive event

The whole thing went down while the restaurant was hosting a different kind of inclusive event

Second offense: Charlotte learned that a non-binary person was also asked for ID for the bathroom

Second offense: Charlotte learned that a non-binary person was also asked for ID for the bathroom

Reinforcements: Finally, Charlotte felt compelled to call the police for help

Reinforcements: Finally, Charlotte felt compelled to call the police for help

Though she isn’t ‘the kind of person who calls cops,’ Charlotte decided something had to be done and phoned in. Within minutes, she said, police officers arrived to take statements. 

‘I could not have asked for a more professional and affirming experience from @DCPoliceDept. The responding officers — all cisgender men — were patient and kind in their communication, assured me I was right on the law, and radioed for their LGBTQ liaison unit to respond.

‘The LGBTQ liaison’s first question after introducing themselves was: “Hi Charlotte, may I ask for your pronouns?” They took statements, gave my friends and I space to process this (mostly my friends trying to offer humor and hugs), and fully debriefed me on my rights.

‘I’m told @CubaLibreDC will face investigations by the city’s licensing authority and the D.C. Office of Human Rights, the latter which I have to initiate using the police report that will on file. The officers told me I had a very strong case.

‘On Monday, I will begin pursuing all available legal options against @CubaLibreDC. If the manager had apologized when I showed him the law and committed to doing better, I’d still be angry, but we wouldn’t be here. He didn’t do that. He did the exact opposite.

Getting it down: Two patrol cars came and took statements

Getting it down: Two patrol cars came and took statements

She said the police officers were 'patient and kind' and brought in DC's LGBTQ liaison unit

She said the police officers were ‘patient and kind’ and brought in DC’s LGBTQ liaison unit

Pronouns: Charlotte was also please with how this unit treated her

Pronouns: Charlotte was also please with how this unit treated her

Charlotte says she was told that there would be investigations of the restaurant 

Charlotte says she was told that there would be investigations of the restaurant 

The law: She also said she was pursue 'all available legal options' against them

The law: She also said she was pursue ‘all available legal options’ against them

Despite the horrible night, she was touched by how supportive strangers were

Despite the horrible night, she was touched by how supportive strangers were

‘A lot of people — complete strangers — walked out of @CubaLibreDC when they saw what happened. Some wanted to respect my space, and others wanted to offer verbal support. I am incredibly grateful for the allyship I witnessed last night. I needed it badly, and folks stepped up.

‘One woman named Mystic, a Cirque du Soleil dancer from Russia, came up to me, took my face in her hands and said: “The is the kind of bullshit Putin does. You are so beautiful. You are gorgeous.” She gave me a hug and then did a standing split to make me laugh.’

She wet on to thanks the DC Police department, who ‘responded with professionalism and compassion,’ as well as strangers who came to her aid. She also noted that despite being discriminated against, she was lucky enough to be white, which may have prevented things from getting worse. 

‘My privilege helped me in this situation. Transgender people, esp. people of color, without my privilege are not so fortunate.,’ she said.   

Charlotte has yet to update on whether she initiated the investigation by the D.C. Office of Human Rights, or what legal steps she is taking.

Cracking down: She said a Russian woman said this was the kind of behavior Putin encouraged

Cracking down: She said a Russian woman said this was the kind of behavior Putin encouraged

Grateful: Charlotte thanked the police department for their help

Grateful: Charlotte thanked the police department for their help

Recognizing privilege: She also noted that things may have gone differently if she weren't white

Recognizing privilege: She also noted that things may have gone differently if she weren’t white

Not spoiled: Thankfully, the group was still able to go back out and enjoy the bachelorette weekend

Not spoiled: Thankfully, the group was still able to go back out and enjoy the bachelorette weekend

Sorry: Cuba Libre has released a statement apologizing and has tried to get into contact with Charlotte directly

Sorry: Cuba Libre has released a statement apologizing and has tried to get into contact with Charlotte directly

She did link to the government fact sheet that she brought up in the restaurant, which details the District Requirements in Public Accommodations — Gender Identity and Expression and references the DC Human Rights Act.

It reads: ‘District law requires two things with regard to access to public facilities: (1) single-occupancy bathrooms must be gender-neutral; and (2) facility managers and personnel must respect a person’s restroom choice based on their gender identification or expression.’

It further explains: ‘For instance, if an individual, who identifies or presents themselves as a woman, wishes to use the Women’s restroom, they must be permitted to do so even if the individual were to be perceived differently. Thus, under District laws, denying access to any restroom, or other gender specific facility that is consistent with a person’s gender identity or expression, is unlawful.’ 

Since Charlotte’s Twitter thread went viral, Cuba Libre has responded publicly to the controversy and apologized in a statement.

‘We are extremely sorry for the incident that occurred at our restaurant last night,’ they wrote. ‘As a rule, we support safe bathrooms and welcome guests of all gender identifications. Clearly our staff did not do so last night and treated you in an unacceptable manner. We are immediately retraining our entire staff to ensure this does not happen again.

‘It is particularly disappointing that this has occurred during Pride month when we’re undertaking efforts & events to to support the LGBTQ community.

‘Out CEO has reached out to you through a friend of a member of your party from last night. He provided his cell number and homes to speak with you personally today. 



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk