Owner of celeb-adored NYC gay club The Q accused of racism, underage drinking and public sex – Daily Mail
Alan Picus, owner of The Q, a popular Manhattan gay club. He is accused of plying underage customers with alcohol, having sex with young men in plain view of customers, prioritizing white clientele and telling staff not to confiscate date rape drugs
The owner of a Manhattan gay club that is backed by celebrities including Zachary Pinto and Billy Porter has been accused of plying underage patrons with alcohol, having sex with young men in plain view of customers, demanding ‘white’ customers only and telling staff not to confiscate date rape drugs.
Alan Picus is the owner of The Q, a popular club in Hell’s Kitchen where New York City Mayor held a campaign event last year.
In a shocking new lawsuit, his co-founder, Frankie Sharp, alleges widespread misconduct that includes Picus allegedly telling staff he didn’t want clientele ‘looking like they were from the Bronx’ and instructing that it was important they ‘don’t alienate white boys’.
Sharp is suing Picus and their other co-founder, Bob Fluet, for breach of contract, claiming he was unfairly fired after raising his concerns about the manner in which they were running the club.
According to Sharp’s lawsuit, Picus told door security to not check the ID of those entering the club.
He also ‘actively encouraged’ people taking the date rape drug GHB, Sharp claims.
In fact when he learned that staff were confiscating the drug, he allegedly said: ‘I’m going to read Edwin [the head of security] the riot act. They’re taking our boys’ GHB away.’
The Q Club in Hell’s Kitchen, which was opened in June last year. The club has now fired Picus
The club, called The Q, was launched with great fanfare in the Hell’s Kitchen district of Manhattan in June 2021 with celeb backers that included Porter and Pinto.
The four-story townhouse staged live entertainment on the ground floor, and welcomed guests to a lounge area in the middle. The top floor was for dancing, with a suspended catwalk.
Frankie Sharp, an award-winning event producer, nightlife curator, and DJ, said it was the largest queer-owned and -operated nightlife venue in Manhattan, with an added emphasis on respect and inclusion.
The bar made a point to provide an ‘affirming, welcoming space for all to enjoy,’ according to its website.
‘Violent rhetoric or action, non-consensual touching, or any form of racist, homophobic, transphobic, sexist, sizeist, ageist, ableist conduct will not be tolerated.’
When Sharp complained about Picus, Fluet fired him in May this year, he claims.
Sharp on June 10 filed a case before New York Supreme Court, accusing Picus and Fluet of breach of contract and seeking backpay plus a share of the estimated $5.6 million in profits.
‘I wanted to create a safe space not in the sometimes trite sense we see the term used, but a true and sacred space for all of our queer family to feel safe enough for freedom, fun, and cathartic self-expression,’ Sharp told NPR.
Celebrity backers of the club included, clockwise from top left, Billy Porter; Jake Shears; Zachary Quinto; and Charlie Carver
Picus, right, and his co-founder Alan Fluet, left, with NYC Mayor Eric Adams at a campaign event in October last year
Picus in 2009 with former Real Housewife of Atlanta Kim Zolciak. His network of celebrity friends drew a large crowd to the club when it opened last year
‘I wanted to build an antidote for the Trump era. I wanted to build all of us a home.’
The shocking allegations were made in a lawsuit filed by co-founder Frankie Sharp (pictured)
Picus was described as being ‘no longer affiliated with the Q’ in a July 6 Instagram post from the new creative director, Luis Fernando.
He has not commented on the suit.
Fluet told NPR he was unaware of the allegations against Picus.
‘I trusted my producers and staff, but it turns out I spread myself a bit too thin and relied on our producers too much,’ Fluet said.
‘I’ve always tried to empower my staff to take the lead to create great programming and amazing venues by trying to keep a low key.’
Sharp, in his suit, claims that he told Fluet about Picus’s actions.
‘I had heard of Alan engaging in sexual activity in the employee restroom often, although he was also commonly seen engaging in sex acts with (often very young-looking) customers in the public areas of the club,’ Sharp said.
‘I found this pattern of behavior extremely disturbing. I brought those concerns to Bob, who was dismissive and belittled me for it.’
Sharp said that other employees complained to him about Picus, with more than 20 people voicing concerns.
‘From bar staff members, promoters, dancers to DJs. It was daily. We had an almost comical turnover in managers over the first year of operation,’ Sharp said.
‘We all learned to deal with it because Bob [Fluet] was the controlling partner and he wouldn’t do anything about it. The loudest complaints always came directly from me.
Photos from the club, where Picus is said to have encouraged public sex and drug taking
‘Sadly, Bob consistently gaslit, diminished, and ignored me and the staff.’
Fluet on Instagram said he was working to improve the situation.
‘The last few days have been extremely difficult for everyone who calls the Q their home.
‘From the management, to the staff, to the patrons,’ he wrote on July 5.
‘Q was created specifically to serve the entire, diverse LGBTQIA+ community, offering our employees, talent, and patrons a sanctuary to express their individuality to the fullest.
‘While we vehemently deny the hurtful allegations that have recently surfaced, we are committed to end the very division within our community that Q’s programming and mission were designed to combat.’
He added: ‘On a personal note, I remain committed to fostering an open dialogue on how the Q can better serve our community and I will continue to invest in educating my staff – and myself – on the unique issues our community collectively faces.
‘I will always strive to move the agenda forward for all, through my continued support of LGBTQIA+ organizations, non-profits, political leaders, and communities of color.
‘No form of racism, transphobia, colorism, or any other form of discrimination has been or will be tolerated at any of my venues. This is my commitment to you.’