An LGBTQ club in Sacramento, California, is banning all “MAGA-related attire” after a patron wore a “Make America Great Again” hat to the popular venue.
The phrase and its acronym — especially when emblazoned on red baseball caps — have been popular among Donald Trump’s supporters since the president’s first term.
Badlands owner TJ Bruce announced the new policy on the club’s Instagram page this week, saying the hat “led to discomfort among some patrons.”
“We initially decided to ban all political attire to avoid further issues. However, after careful consideration, we’ve realized that a blanket ban is not the right approach,” the announced said. “Moving forward, MAGA-related attire will not be allowed in the venue. This decision is not about banning political beliefs — it is about ensuring that Badlands remains a space where our community feels comfortable and supported.”
The customer who donned the MAGA hat, Steven Bourasa, said it was the first time he’d worn the hat to a gay bar.
“I said, ’What the heck? Let’s see what happens,’” he told local NBC affiliate KCRA-TV in an on-camera interview.
Bourasa added that he had a “pleasant time” at Badlands and ran into no problems, so he thought the night went well and was surprised to hear of the new policy.
Reactions to the club’s new policy were mixed.
The Sacramento chapter of Log Cabin Republicans, a gay conservative group, called the policy “a disappointing move that prioritizes division over the fundamental American principle of free speech.”
“While private businesses have the right to enforce their own policies, choosing to exclude individuals based on political expression contradicts the very values of inclusivity and open dialogue that the LGBTQ+ community has long fought for,” the group wrote in an Instagram post. “True equality is not about silencing opposing views but about creating spaces where diverse perspectives can coexist.”
Alice Malmberg, who lives near Badlands, which is located in the city’s Lavender Heights “gayborhood,” said she found the decision to prohibit MAGA attire at the club understandable.
“Given the current political climate and what’s been going on and how the administration has been behaving toward certain groups, especially the LGBTQ community, I can understand why they made that decision,” she told KCRA.
As for Bourasa, he told KCRA that he’ll continue to visit Badlands but will keep his MAGA gear at home.
