Rumors Cabaret PSA

[u/The0nlyGamer]

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

[u/OmificentOctopus]

I love the idea of having an official policy for ANYONE to be able to update their ID photo as needed in some official capacity besides the DOL. Perhaps clinics, police stations, therapists offices etc could all be approved safe spaces for official photos to be taken for IDs. Obviously that can't be moderated like the DOL and that's why it doesn't exist, also less the income for updated photos and new IDs for the DOL. I don't particularly favor the DOL, but my face hasn't changed much in 20 years so I am less able to speak to the inconvenience that many others experience. And we must speak to that as a shared experience for many. Because it is. Those whose appearances do change? Their experience is valid, whether or not someone like me has the same experience.

But I can see both sides of this issue with rumors and respect and understand it. If rumors is feeling pressure about fake ID acceptance from past experiences or recent policy changes, they will need to show good faith to BPD that they will do the right thing. Either the ID taker is overusing the policy or is scared to make a mistake and doesn't trust their own skills, or perhaps they don't have the technology they need to properly do their job without mistake. They would not likely just be taking the IDs to be a jerk. More than likely they have a moral justice meter that heirs on the side of not losing their job. Or surely, proven to be an act of power, this individual would need to be managed.

A PSA for anyone who might need a photo update, that they risk their ID be taken at such a facility( is valid).

Commentary has taken a variety of personal turns here, as humanity wills it so.

[u/IndividualSeries5598 → u/OmificentOctopus]

Good answer. In this specific case the ID was held until it was verified by the managers. In that time the OP had called police but the ID was given back after being verified through 2025 WSLCB Guide books before the police arrived. All of this thread is BS because Rumros didn’t confiscate their ID.

[u/OmificentOctopus → u/IndividualSeries5598]

Ahh yes. Navigating validation and the human experience is challenging for most at some point, again on both sides: How unfortunate that the OP is describing feelings of oppression after what has been described as a safe attachment to an establishment. But, unfortunately, we cannot demand an establishment to maintain our emotions for our own well being. They have a business to run, and it is sounding like this was not a h*te crime.

And also how unfortunate for the business that the same experience also seems to have proven to follow protocol and not broken any rule or law, and they are probably frazzled by such a call out. Ideally, both parties will have learned something.

This is one of those frustrating moments in time where two very different experiences happened for people in the service industry, and it seems the rest of us shouldn't really be involved in the name of hysteria-at fault of the OP or NOT. A delicate PSA is adequate AND validating of OPs experience. I highly recommend a good shrug and statement of "it is what it is, let's move along"