Lesbian bar My Sister’s Room’s co-owner says she was arrested after a night of clapping, raised voices and a noise investigation
Apparently, even cheering at a drag show can become a little too loud for comfort. At least, that is the extraordinary situation surrounding an Atlanta bar owner who was arrested outside her own LGBTQ+ venue over the weekend.
Jen Chase-Daniels, co-owner of Atlanta lesbian bar My Sister’s Room, was arrested Saturday, August 15, following a noise-related investigation around the Midtown venue. The bar described the incident on Instagram as an arrest over patrons “clapping too loud” during a drag burlesque show.
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What happened outside My Sister’s Room?
According to the incident report, Atlanta police had received several complaints concerning noise, vehicles, and patrons in the area around Crescent Avenue, where My Sister’s Room and neighboring businesses are located.
Officer Jayden Joseph wrote that he could not determine that loud music was coming from a particular location. He also noted that he heard vehicles playing loud music in the area and specifically stated that he did not hear loud music coming from either My Sister’s Room or nearby Seven Midtown.
The report did, however, say officers observed the garage door open at My Sister’s Room and patrons inside “projecting their voices loudly.” After walking approximately 200 feet away, the officer said he could hear what he characterized as a disturbance coming from the bar’s patrons.
So, no blaring speakers were apparently caught red-handed. Just people being, well, people.
Then came the ID request
According to the police report, officers asked Chase-Daniels to provide identification while investigating the situation. The report says a sergeant told her she could be arrested for obstruction if she did not provide it.
Chase-Daniels has a different perspective on the encounter. She said she questioned why she needed to identify herself and offered to provide video footage showing that the noise was not coming from her establishment. She says she was arrested instead.
My Sister’s Room subsequently posted video footage taken roughly 100 feet from the venue, which Chase-Daniels said was recorded around 20 minutes before her arrest. She argued that the footage demonstrated that the surrounding noise was not coming from the bar.
A frightening night after the arrest
Chase-Daniels also described what happened after she was taken into custody as deeply distressing.
She said she was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital because she has an implanted heart monitor and remained handcuffed there for approximately 10 hours. According to her account, she repeatedly asked officers to notify her family but said nobody was told where she was.
Her wife and fellow My Sister’s Room co-owner, Jami Lassiter, separately described spending hours trying to locate Chase-Daniels. Lassiter said family, friends and employees contacted both the jail and hospital while attempting to determine where she had been taken.
The account has understandably intensified concern among the bar’s supporters.
The bar isn’t backing down
Despite the incident, My Sister’s Room says it intends to continue operating and complying with Atlanta’s regulations.
Chase-Daniels also explained that the city no longer relies on decibel readings for this particular ordinance. She said she had recently participated in a meeting with local officials and neighboring businesses to clarify a 100-foot boundary and requirements concerning noise after midnight.
The case now leaves an unusual question hanging over Atlanta’s nightlife scene: how loud is too loud when your bar is filled with people cheering at a drag show?
For a lesbian bar that has spent years creating a space for community, celebration and queer nightlife, the answer may prove considerably more complicated than simply turning down the music.