A comedian well known in the LGBT community made a bizarre discovery at a gig in suburban Berwyna two-way mirror in the women's washroomand that has led to a change in local ordinances. It is now illegal to utilize two-way mirrors or similar surveillance devices in private spaces in Berwyn.
The Berwyn City Council unanimously passed the ordinance June 9.
Chicago performer Tamale Rocks, also known as Tamale Sepp, was, in April, performing at Cigars and Stripes BBQ and Lounge, 6715 W. Ogden Ave. in Berwyn. When using the washroom, she was unsettled by the mirror, which was attached to a door with a utility closet on the opposite side, from which someone could conceivably watch a patron using the toilet. She filmed a video about the mirror and posted it to YouTube the next day. The video went viral and has had well over 3.4 million views.
In an email sent to Windy City Times, Rocks said that she was grateful for the new ordinance.
"To have other people respond and take actions that resulted in broader awareness and an actual shift in the law is both vindicating and inspirational," Rocks said. "The next step is to have this legislation adopted by the state, both updating antiquated privacy laws and reflecting a commitment to respecting privacy."
The bar's owner, Ronnie Lottz, said that the mirror was well known to his patrons and at first refused to take it down. Berwyn police, investigating the situation, concluded that there was no evident wrongdoing.
"When the police examined the mirror and did nothing, the heat toward making a change intensified," Rocks said. "The police said no laws had been broken. This response infuriated people and they began taking action to change the law. I worked in concert with them to support their efforts."
On June 1, Lottz posted a video to YouTube that said he was taking the mirror down. But that only came after heated words for Rocks in the media.
Rocks said of Lottz's response to her complaint, "More than once, he expressed glee at the free press. Admittedly, the attention was widespread. It was, in fact, worldwide press that illuminated him, his establishment and the city of Berwyn, with their initial lackluster response, in a less than favorable light. That free press was, in the end, quite costly.
"I discovered I was not the first woman to be upset about this mirror, yet it remained," she added. "The owner has openly bragged about it being in place since 2001. … The only reason anything changed was because, once that video went viral, there was no ignoring it. You could see through the actual mirror and it became a shared experience that resulted in a change in the law."
Rocks gave credit to Alds. Marge Paul and Bob Fejt, as well as ethnographer Kelly Paul, for helping get the bill drafted and pushed through, adding, "I'd also like to acknowledge the women and men of Berwyn, and outside Berwyn, who stood up against this. Without their online and verbal support, there is no way we would have gotten this passed."