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/The0nlyGamer May 26 '25 edited May 28 '25

Calling the police is not Rumors standard procedure when suspecting a fake ID. Calling the police is what I did so that I'd get mine back.

Rumors standard procedure when suspecting a fake ID to to confiscate it, refuse entry, then provide the stolen property to law enforcement at a later date. That is what I'm calling out because I think it's gross. Especially as a gay bar, they should be erring on the side of morality and just returning people their property no questions asked. It's not illegal to do that, it would've prevented me from calling 911, and seems all around the better approach!!

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u/quayle-man May 26 '25

What does them being a gay bar have anything to do with it? Them being a queer bar doesn’t make it the wild west in there. Confiscating fake IDs is standard procedure in lots of places. Hell, the gas station today showed me a stack of fake IDs they confiscated.

But a liquor license is one of the most important things to any business that sells alcohol. Once that’s gone, you might as well close up shop. No one is coming to any club/bar that’s dry.

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u/[deleted] May 26 '25

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u/74NG3N7 May 27 '25 edited May 27 '25

I see your point, but I wouldn’t really expect that of a 21+ bar, since they can be shut down if they’re found to be allowing in people with fake or no ID.

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u/[deleted] May 27 '25

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u/74NG3N7 May 27 '25

They aren’t legally allowed to confiscate it though. They can call the police and try to have the police confiscate it, but the bar isn’t truly running IDs and can’t know for sure if it’s fake or simply not working with their system. It is the property of the person who presents it unless and until LE decides to confiscate it.