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'Not Discrimination' ? |
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Compiled by GayToday Courtesy of Rainbow Network
London, England--The owner of Britain's biggest gay nightclub has denied that his "majority
gay" door policy is discriminatory.
The claims follow a case last summer in which a gay pub in in Dublin was investigated for allegedly refusing entrance to heterosexuals. One clubber complained to about the practice. Liz Morrow, 26 of Clapham, London, told RainbowNetwork that she often goes clubbing in a group that includes gay and straight friends. She said: "On Saturday night about 12 of us met at G-A-Y for a night of Boney M. Four of the group were straight, and we all planned to meet inside." Morrow continued: "They were pounded with questions at the door. The bouncer asked: "Are you gay?" He said to my female friend: "Who is your partner?" He asked the same question to my male friend, and said: "Who are you with out of this lot? This is a gay place." My straight friends ended up lying and saying they were gay in order to get inside. This is the second time this has happened to me and my mates in the last four months." She said: "I realise that G-A-Y is trying to keep its gay atmosphere and stop hooligans gay bashing their punters. However, surely patrons should be judged on their attitude rather than their sexual preference?" Morrow pointed out:
Under Ireland's Equal Status Act of 2000, it is illegal for pubs and bars to refuse entrance to people because of their sexual orientation. The act also makes it unlawful to bar entry on the basis of gender, religion, marital status, age, family status, disability, race, and prohibits discrimination against travellers. No such legislation exists in England. Joseph remarked: "We're not the only club that does this, other clubs have the same policy, including Popstarz and Heaven." |
