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Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Straight Jacketed in Melbourne

A Melbourne Publican has won the right to limit access to hetrosexuals, who he claims disrupt the ambience of his gay bar.

Pub owner-manager Tom McFeely said the move was necessary to provide gay men a non-threatening atmosphere to freely express their sexuality.

"If I can limit the number of heterosexuals entering the Peel, then that helps me keep the safe balance effectively," Mr McFeely told Southern Cross Broadcasting.

Mr McFeely said that while the pub welcomed everyone, its gay clientele had expressed discomfort over the number of heterosexuals and lesbians coming to the venue over the past year.

"We've had instances in the past where, for example, a buck's night has come up to the Peel or a hen's night - our whole atmosphere changes immensely," he said.

Mr McFeely said that prior to the ruling it was illegal to refuse entry to a large group of people based on sexuality, making gay male clients uncomfortable and unable to freely express their sexuality.

He said there were more than 2,000 venues in Melbourne that catered to heterosexuals, but his pub was the only one marketing itself predominantly to gay men.

4 comments:

pommygranate said...

Colin

I am torn on this issue. I can see why the pub landlord would want the ban but its so, well, discriminatory.

I guess it's the thin end of the wedge argument. If you allow this, then heteros will start demanding 'no gays' pubs. Then women only pubs, then Muslim only pubs, bla bla bla.

Colin Campbell said...

Yes.

I didn't really want to comment on this, because clearly this is his niche market and for that type of business, having a loyal clientelle is everything.

At one level, it is not very different between other types of bars, Sports Bars, Karaoke Type Bars....

At another level it is labelling people and they don't like it.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Pommy , I don't think you can have a "Muslims only " pub as they don't - well - drink! In my home town of Cardiff, Uk, though, there are "men only" coffee shops although this is against the law. [It's not stated openly - just understood - god help an innocent tourist, I used to think!] As for the pub in the article, I guess it had to happen somewhere! Like your post title, CC.

James Higham said...

I'm not torn at all. The publican has every right to do what he damn well likes. Is it a democracy or a PC Mafia State?