A woman in Vancouver was barred from entering a 2SLGBTIAQ+ event because her braided hairstyle was deemed a violation of the event’s cultural appropriation policy, sparking outrage and debate about inclusivity and cultural identity. The incident, which took place at the Basted BBQ hosted at the Birdhouse venue, left the woman visibly upset as she recorded her confrontation with staff. This case of a woman denied entry over braids highlights her frustration after a long journey and a $60 ticket purchase.
“I drove all the way from New West and… from Hedley so I could be here last night and got home at four o’clock,”
She said, her voice filled with exasperation.
“Now I can’t get in because of my hair.”
The woman explained that her hairstyle—described as braids or dreadlocks with wool—was flagged by staff as not aligning with the event’s policy, which was included in the event description when she bought her ticket.
She passionately defended her choice, claiming her Celtic, Viking, and Native heritage justified her hairstyle.
“I am Viking. Vikings have dreadlocks. I am Celtic. Celtic people have dreadlocks,”
She argued.
“I’m Native as well. I can have braids in my hair.”
Despite her pleas, event staff stood by their policy, which was developed in consultation with the Black community to foster an anti-racist environment. They explained that hairstyles like braids or dreadlocks, when worn by individuals not from the associated cultures, could be seen as appropriative. The woman, growing more frustrated, offered to compromise:
“I already met you halfway. I put it in a braid. It doesn’t even look like a dreadlock anymore.”
She even proposed removing her hairstyle entirely, saying,
“I’ll take my hair out… I want to come in. My friends are inside.”
But staff refused, citing her “belligerent attitude” and her use of the term “retard” during the exchange as additional reasons for denial.
“I’m allowed to call myself whatever I want,”
She retorted, insisting she wasn’t being belligerent.
“I think I was pretty nice considering how they treated me.”
The woman’s frustration peaked as she highlighted the personal toll of the situation.
“I paid 60 bucks for it because I have great hair… I’ve been camping all weekend. My hair looks like shit. I haven’t washed it,”
She said, emphasizing the effort she put into attending.
“I drove three and a half hours from Hedley… and now I can’t get in, in the blazing heat. And I need to pee really bad.”
She was offered a $60 cash refund, which she accepted, but was still barred from entering, even to use the bathroom or notify her friends.
“I’m going to tell every single person what you did,”
She warned, vowing to share her experience widely.
Online, the incident fueled intense discussion. Some users suggested the policy unfairly targeted the woman, possibly assuming she was white, while others defended it as a necessary step to address cultural appropriation. The woman’s claims about her Celtic, Viking, and Indigenous heritage—where braiding practices exist but differ from African diaspora dreadlocks—add complexity to the dispute. The Birdhouse has not yet issued a public statement, though staff directed her to an email for further discussion.
