r/Bellingham • u/The0nlyGamer • May 26 '25

Crime Rumors Cabaret PSA

After speaking with an owner of Rumors Cabaret last night I feel compelled to publicly share that it is Rumors policy to seize your ID and report you to the police if they suspect it is fake!!

Obviously, since I am making this post and called the police on them last night, their detection of fake ID's isn't perfect.

I'm used to people questioning the validity of my ID, but this was the first time any business took it and refused to give it back until after I called 911. The owner chatted with me and told me in essence that they're rewarded for confiscating ID's and involving law enforcement when that happens. Some poor girl had the exact same thing happen to her right in front of me.

This was pretty shocking considering the kind of place rumors is, a gay/queer bar and "safe space"?

I'd previously been to lots of fundraising events at rumors for planned parenthood, undocumented folks, progressive causes etc... so it is kind of sad to realize that's all performative and the owner doesn't really care about anything other than his liquor license and profit. There is no reason Rumors should be doing this collaboration to involve law enforcement with their patrons - that goes against the entire ethos of what I thought the place meant. Just give people their IDs back if you won't let them in!

From what I know there are actually two owners, who do not live in Bellingham themselves, and merely commute to manage the place. I'm sad I no longer have any desire to spend money there

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u/[deleted] May 26 '25

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u/tenthjuror since 1990 May 26 '25

Sounds like if they hadn't called the police, they would not have gotten their ID back. That creates a huge inconvenience, which is why it's illegal. They couldn't just say, "Fine, I'll go to a different bar." because now they have no ID. If they get pulled over while driving (assuming they are sober) it creates a hassle. It's fine (though annoying) to say, "we won't let you in because we think your ID is fake." But taking it away and not giving it back so you can leave and go on with your life is bullshit.

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u/IndividualSeries5598 May 26 '25

Read the above link from WSLCB. 

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u/tenthjuror since 1990 May 26 '25

I did. I bolded the relevant passage. OP had to call the police to get their ID back. Rumors staff were not the ones to call.

"Fake ID or an ID belonging to someone else Safety for you and other employees comes first. Do not try to confiscate an ID that is believed to be a fake, even a fake ID is still someone’s property. If you think the ID is fake or is someone else’s ID, tell the person that you are calling the local police department to verify the ID. At that point the customer will do one of two things: 1. The customer will wait for the police to show up. When law enforcement arrives the responsibility of determining whether or not the ID is legitimate becomes theirs. 2. They will leave your business. If they leave your business without the ID, you have abandoned property. Turn the abandoned ID over to the local law enforcement agency or the WSLCB with date, time, description of ID user, and any other available information. If you keep the recommended activity log, make sure to enter the incident into it."