One of the largest Pride organizations in Nevada publicly cut ties with Henderson Pride after its president was implicated in an alleged assault at a gay club.
In a detailed social media post that included a statement and security footage of the alleged assault, Dust Las Vegas owner Ryan Bandy accused Henderson Pride President Anthony Cortez of assaulting a go-go dancer in his club on Sunday, April 26.
The video footage provided shows a man, identified by Bandy as Cortez, pulling a go-go dancer off the stage, bumping him repeatedly with his chest while yelling in his face and pulling off the pup mask the dancer was wearing. Other people in the club and fellow go-go dancers can be seen trying to intervene, finally surrounding the dancer to protect him from the man’s continued attempts to push him.
In his statement released on Instagram, Bandy said that after he heard yelling, he came out and "made Mr. Cortez leave the bar area and go to the kitchen to diffuse the situation."
When the police arrived, Bandy watched the surveillance footage with the cops and said that "to my horror, I saw the assault from beginning to end for the first time," which prompted him to ban Cortez from Dust Las Vegas.
The club only provides security for large events, so none were on the premises at the time of the alleged assault as it was a smaller afternoon event that runs from "4-8pm and usually has around 30-40 people who attend," according to the statement.
"I have discussed the situation with my staff and we are making changes so that hopefully a situation like this never happens again," Bandy wrote.
Lex Berio, who claims to be the go-go dancer allegedly assaulted at Dust Last Vegas, reposted the surveillance video on Facebook along with clearer cell phone camera footage, and a clip where he is speaking directly to the camera about having trouble 'feeling calm again" after the incident.
Berio also posted a statement warning people about the unsafe venues in the area and calling on the city of Henderson to take action.
"This is not about tearing anyone down," Berio wrote on Facebook. "It’s about raising standards, protecting our community, and making sure Pride events reflect the values with all share — safety, transparency, and integrity."
In response to public outcry about the alleged assault, Las Vegas PRIDE decided to publicly end any "past or perceived" affiliation with Henderson Pride in a statement posted to its website and Instagram account.
"In light of recent actions by Henderson Pride President Anthony Cortez, Las Vegas PRIDE will not participate in, support, or collaborate with Henderson Pride moving forward," the statement reads. "Our community already faces ongoing challenges from external forces, and it is essential that we also uphold accountability and respect within our own spaces."
