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WeHo Bar To 'Deny Entry' To Lawmakers Who Back Anti-Gay Legislation

WEST HOLLYWOOD (CBSLA.com) — Southern California lawmakers who support legislation to discriminate against gays and lesbians now have one less hotspot to visit in West Hollywood.

David Cooley, the founder of The Abbey Food & Bar located at 692 North Robertson Blvd., has announced the popular gay bar will add any legislator in any state who votes for "bills to allow for discrimination against LGBT people" to a "Deny Entry List."

In a statement, Cooley said The Abbey will also display headshots of each state representative who support bills on the security list, including Kansas House Bill 2453, Arizona Senate Bill 1062, Idaho House Bill 426, Ohio House Bill 82 and other similar proposals.

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"I want to send a message to all those people out there who conflate Christian values with discrimination: we don't want your kind here," Cooley said. "I've learned that I can't stop crazy, ignorant or stupid, but I can stop it from coming through my doors."

The move isn't the first time The Abbey has waded into state politics: when gay marriage was still illegal in California in May 2012, the bar announced a ban on all bachelorette parties, which it called an "offensive heterosexual tradition" that flaunts marriage inequality.

The Abbey, which features a rainbow-colored cross as its logo and touts itself as the "Best Gay Bar In The World," also called on other local restaurants, hotels, and other retailers "that appreciate their LGBT customers" to enact similar bans.

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