Gay hotel bans heterosexuals & lesbians

[MacKenzie]

First it was a "Women Only" Floor at a hotel?

[irony]This is a definite outrage, Lesbians and straight women are being discriminated against. Straight Men too.[/irony] 

Gay Aussie hotel wins right to ban heterosexuals, lesbians

by Justine Pellegrino

Mon May 28, 5:26 AM ET

SYDNEY (AFP) - An Australian hotel popular with gay men has won the right to refuse entry to heterosexuals and lesbians, officials and the owner said Monday.

The Peel Hotel in Melbourne won an exemption from the Equal Opportunity Act to prevent insults and abuse directed toward gays in its bars and nightclubs, owner Tom McFeely told AFP.

"The hotel predominantly markets itself towards homosexual males, towards gay men and we want to protect the integrity of the venue as well as continue to make the men feel comfortable," McFeely said.

"When large numbers of heterosexuals or even lesbians are in the hotel that changes the atmosphere and many gay men can feel uncomfortable."

The landmark decision by a civil tribunal gives the establishment -- which does not offer accommodation -- the right to refuse entry to people considered a threat to the safety and comfort of its patrons.

Helen Szoke, the chief executive of the Victoria state government's Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, said the Peel Hotel's gay clientele had experienced harassment, hostility and violence.

"(They) also have felt as though they've been like a zoo exhibit with big groups of women on hens' parties coming to the club," she said.

McFeely said his aim was not to ban all straight patrons and lesbians but to limit their numbers so gay men could freely express their sexuality.

He said he expected a backlash from other patrons, but added: "I'm not worried about it because to be frank I don't really care what heterosexuals or lesbians think.

"My main motivation is to protect my gay male customers and I realise heterosexuals and lesbians may be upset. but I don't care about that.

"We are open at 8.00pm and we go all the way through till the morning. We have two dancefloors -- it is a nightclub environment."

McFeely said it would be easy to sort out desirable gays from undesirable straights and lesbians.

"It is particularly easy to implement with the females 'cause that is pretty obvious.

"With the heterosexual males, if they identify themselves as that at the door, or indeed we question their behaviour in the venue and if they come across as being heterosexual, then we will simply ask them to leave if the behaviour is unappropriate."

Human rights group Liberty Victoria supported the decision, vice-president Michael Pearce said.

"There are numerous places where heterosexual people can go," he said.

"I think what (the tribunal) has said is that there aren't that many places where gay people can go and meet without the risk of being harassed or vilified, and that they are entitled to have their own spaces to do that in."

[gwallan]

"(They) also have felt as though they've been like a zoo exhibit with big groups of women on hens' parties coming to the club," she said.

Rubbish. Women would never do something like this. Right?

[neonsamurai]

Although I think it's a bit desriminatory (a "Sorry, no gays allowed in my pub" sign would probably get a visit from the law for hate crimes), I can kind of see where these guys are coming from.

If I was gay, I'd want a target rich environment when I went out on the pull at my local chapter of GAYE, not blokes trying to pull the straight girls who've come in to have a laugh in a 'safe environment'.

Basically if they ban women from this club it'll sort out all the problems. Why would straight guys want to go a club full of gay men anyway?

[woof]

"When large numbers of heterosexuals or even lesbians are in the hotel that changes the atmosphere and many gay men can feel uncomfortable."

When the shoe is on the other foot the people are called hatefull and homophobic.

[The Gonzman]

While I am a fan of private discrimination as opposed to coercion with the government gun, this is the same bunch that constantly agitates for YOU to be "inclusive" of THEM at the point of the government gun.

This is nothing more than special rights.  "This for me, but not for thee."  It's also called hypocrisy.

One should take a lesson here when one reads what goes on in these more (ahem) "progressive) nations when the activists get their way - they push for more.  In the Netherlands and Canada, and in other places they are prosecuting clergy for preaching their beliefs (Unless, of course, it's an Islamofascist Imam doing it - chickenshits) about homosexuality - all being pushed by the same groups who are funding the "gay rights" (No, no, no - we don't want "special" rights!) agenda here in the US.

Like Orwell's story, these animals want to be more equal than the other animals.

[BRIAN]

There are Bed and Breakfasts in Key West that cater exclusively to Gays and Lesbians. I thought of the hew and cry that would go up if I tried to open a Hetro only resort. I then chalked it up to the lunacy that the U.S. Legal system had spun out in years of EOC cases. Now I see it is everywhere.

[Chris Key]

Minority groups are going to find it more difficult than the majority to meet like-minded people.  Therefore, it makes sense to allow minority groups to form their own businesses and cater to no one else but their own.  Saying that though, I don't think the Government should fund businesses that cater exclusively to minority groups.

[The Gonzman]

Minority groups are going to find it more difficult than the majority to meet like-minded people.  Therefore, it makes sense to allow minority groups to form their own businesses and cater to no one else but their own.  Saying that though, I don't think the Government should fund businesses that cater exclusively to minority groups.

I think it makes sense to allow anyone to peaceably establish any business which caters to the target market of their choice - period.  However, if you are going to force people to open to everyone, that should apply across the board.  If you don't, you have a privileged class - one set of laws for some people, another set of laws for another.

Yeah, that whole pesky "equal protection" clause is a bitch.

[jaketk]

"With the heterosexual males, if they identify themselves as that at the door, or indeed we question their behaviour in the venue and if they come across as being heterosexual, then we will simply ask them to leave if the behaviour is unappropriate."

What exactly does it mean to come across as being heterosexual? Would they kick a guy out if he did not speak with an effeminate tone or said he liked sports? How would one even know he is straight unless he explicitly stated it (given there would be no women there)?

[The Gonzman]

"With the heterosexual males, if they identify themselves as that at the door, or indeed we question their behaviour in the venue and if they come across as being heterosexual, then we will simply ask them to leave if the behaviour is unappropriate."

What exactly does it mean to come across as being heterosexual? Would they kick a guy out if he did not speak with an effeminate tone or said he liked sports? How would one even know he is straight unless he explicitly stated it (given there would be no women there)?

The only thing I can think of is one who turns down sexual advances.

[Mr. X]

Minority groups are going to find it more difficult than the majority to meet like-minded people.  Therefore, it makes sense to allow minority groups to form their own businesses and cater to no one else but their own.  Saying that though, I don't think the Government should fund businesses that cater exclusively to minority groups.

I think it makes sense to allow anyone to peaceably establish any business which caters to the target market of their choice - period.  However, if you are going to force people to open to everyone, that should apply across the board.  If you don't, you have a privileged class - one set of laws for some people, another set of laws for another.

Yeah, that whole pesky "equal protection" clause is a bitch.

I agree Gonzo. I am all for people picking and choosing their clients but when all the rest of us are forced to accept gays and lesbians then why can they exclude heterosexuals? I don't want to get into making the rubber raft even by punching yet another hole in it. Hopefully gays will get the idea they also can be excluded.

[AnubisRox]

Ahhh, but everybody's ignoring the main point! Its not discriminatory that theyre excluding straight MEN...its that they're excluding WOMEN! Both straight and gay! There, my friends, is where the outrage will come! 

[gwallan]

Ahhh, but everybody's ignoring the main point! Its not discriminatory that theyre excluding straight MEN...its that they're excluding WOMEN! Both straight and gay! There, my friends, is where the outrage will come! 

That must be problematic for the feminists given their hijacking of gay issues. Their true colours will be aired either way.

[Mr. X]

So do they ban people with no sexuality?

[damnbiker]

Well so much for my friday night plans!