Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Peru: Gay night club to open today despite city warnings

00

The calm before the storm? A city security agent guards the front door of the closed night club.

© Peru 21

(LIP-jl) -- Despite warnings from municipal officials, one of Lima's largest gay night clubs, Down Town, will reopen its doors to the public tonight thanks to a court order issued earlier this week.

Lima's Third District Court issued a court order on Monday which voids measures implemented by the  municipality of Miraflores that have kept the night club closed since last April.

Tito Barrenechea, a representative from the night club, affirmed that Down Town has all of its permits and authorizations in order despite Miraflores Mayor Manuel Masias' insistence that it does not.

He added that the night club began to renew its permits and authorizations two years ago, which according to Barrenechea, is standard operating procedure in Lima's most popular tourist district.

With the court's backing, Barrenechea announced that Down Town will reopen its doors tonight at 10pm. In the event that municipal authorities attempt to shutdown the night club -as the mayor has threatened- the administration will take immediate legal action against the district.

Meanwhile, Masias reiterated that Down Town will not open its doors in his district and if it does so, city authorities will immediately shut it down.

- related articles -
separator
	Peru: Miraflores to appeal court order that reopens night clubs (by LIP, 4 June, 2007)
	Peru: Gay rights activists fight to reopen nightclub (by LIP, 2 May, 2007)
	Lima, Peru: Closure of gay nightclub looks to be permanent (by LIP, 30 April, 2007)
separator
-

 | |

• Sports : Riots follow after soccer match in Peru
• Health : Peru commemorates World AIDS Day with information campaign
• TV/Entertainment : Iron Maiden to perform in Lima March 2009
• TV/Entertainment : Enrique Iglesias performs to screaming fans in Lima
• Lima : Peru, Chile companies to launch $160 million project in Lima beach

# amer says :
6 June, 2007 [ 10:54 ]

The alcalda will loose this one, and he should.  He is defying the courts of Peru and he should be sent to jail for his illegal actions.

# Miguel Smith, Ph.D. says :
6 June, 2007 [ 12:26 ]

Masias is practically a demi-God in my eyes.

# Francisco says :
6 June, 2007 [ 14:24 ]

'Lima's most popular tourist district'
This line says it all: if narrowminded neighbours want to live in a 'quiet' area (who decides what is 'quiet' anyway?), they should move out of Miraflores and Barranco.

GO DOWNTOWN! You got to fight for your right to PARTY!!!

Good luck tonight,
A concerned (straight) expat

# Patsy Wockenfuss says :
7 June, 2007 [ 00:31 ]

There are a lot of discos in Miraflores and they don't say anything about them, they are probably doing this only because this is a gay disco. The Mayor should take care of the thieves and crime around the area and not about guys who want to get fun like the young and normal people they are. That place is not different from others.

# anonimus says :
2 November, 2007 [ 22:03 ]

i disagree with the actions that the mayor took month ago, we just wanna have fun in a right way...is that forbiden??? i dont think so, we all have to make some noise about this!!! its not fair because there are so many discos in miraflores, and authorities dont do anything with them!!! and also 3 discos were closed: what a coincidence!!! those 3 discos are gay!!!!! im really frustrated because of all this...!!!!!!

# Jet says :
2 November, 2007 [ 23:46 ]

Political vendettas have a way of coming back to haunt you.  This isn't the only miraflores business that he has attempted to destroy which by coincendce belongs to owners that voted against him in the last election. Many have already started to ask questions as to why it seems that so many other businesses owners that voted against him in the last election have also suddenly found themselves being raided or shutdown and charged with 20 or 30 business violations, most if not all of which are later proven to be false.
But as many also know, masias is extremely well connected. Perhaps the most corrupt and connected ($$$) of all local mayors of the area. Only time and perseverance by those who have been dealt an injustice will reveal many of these things that those in power would rather rather keep quiet.
Peru of today is not the Peru of 10 years ago.  Yes corruption does still continue and will in the future also. But it's getting more and more difficult to do so in such a brazen manner as people like masias thinks they still can.  

# gay says :
3 November, 2007 [ 15:53 ]

Manuel Masias is gay. Just like Larry Craig, Richard Curtis, Mark Foley and the rest of the homophobic idiots. He pays male prostitutes to have sex with him and then pretends to be straight by being homophobic. I hope one of his prostitues take photographs and published them to expose the Gay Manuelita Masias. hahaha

# mericorps says :
4 November, 2007 [ 11:31 ]

Gay, if that is true, then yes, I do hope he is exposed.  I do not generally believe in outing someone, it is nobody's business, but if they are elected officials who use their power to hurt homosexuals while being closeted, then they have betrayed their public trust and deserve to be exposed.

Further, I am pleased to note that the courts once again found the failed alcalda in conflict with the Laws of Peru and have made him look the fool again by ordering him to not interfer with Downtown.  It is open.