Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Accused Johns Take Their Protest to the Steps of Gracie
By
Billy Parker
Published Feb 14, 2009
Modified Feb 14, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Billy Parker
Published Feb 14, 2009
Modified Feb 14, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
After weeks of unrest within the gay community but little official action over accusations that the NYPD has been setting up gay men in fraudulent prostitution stings inside adult video stores, protesters took their message to the steps of Mayor Bloomberg's home and staged a rally today outside Gracie Mansion.
It had been almost two weeks since Speaker Christine Quinn said that she would get to the bottom of the charges that the NYPD has been sending in young, attractive male officers into the sex shops and offering to take home older gentlemen that then are arrested outside. Quinn said that she was planning a meeting with Police Commissioner Ray Kelly over the incident, but many of those outraged wanted the message sent to the top. Gay and AIDS activist Andy Velez recently told Gay City News, "The wealthiest people in the world do not like to be embarrassed."
Attorney Bill Dobbs told reporters, "The city is using gay men as a means to shutter places. This is a blow to civil liberties, it's a dangerous kind of sting." He and other activists are planning another rally next Saturday at 4 p.m. in Sheridan Square in the West Village.
NYPD spokesman Paul Browne told the press that the prostitution arrests are in no way targeting the gay community saying, "The police activity was in response to community complaints of prostitution and other problems at a few locations." Many believe that the department is attempting to use a "nuisance law" to shut down sex shops after recording multiple arrests at them. The nuisance abatement lawsuit filed by the department against Unicorn DVD reported in the original story has since been taken back without an explanation.
Tagged
mayor bloomberg
prostitution
Billy Parker
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Queens man found dead, police say, and injured woman is his mother, neighbors say
Police are investigating a related incident in which a 62-year-old woman was found injured beneath the Van Wyck Expressway.
By
Charles Lane
Published Oct 14, 2026 at 7:39 p.m. ET
Man shot by ICE in NYC's Marble Hill said federal officers never identified themselves
The wounded man said he didn't learn ICE agents were involved until he woke up in the hospital.
By
Arya Sundaram
and
Samantha Max
News
Man shot by ICE in NYC's Marble Hill said federal officers never identified themselves
The wounded man said he didn't learn ICE agents were involved until he woke up in the hospital.
By
Arya Sundaram
and
Samantha Max
Brooklyn school dean says MTA officers assaulted him over a $3 bus fare he says he paid
By
Carol Chen
National Grid customers in NYC will see higher gas bills this winter
By
Rosemary Misdary
Bruce Blakeman joins Gov. Hochul in support for expanding NY rape law
By
Jon Campbell
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .