babble home
rabble.ca - news for the rest of us
today's active topics

Topic Closed  Topic Closed


Post New Topic  
Topic Closed  Topic Closed
FAQ | Forum Home
  next oldest topic   next newest topic
» babble   » current events   » international news and politics   » UK: Gay Clubs and Straight Customers

Email this thread to someone!    
Author Topic: UK: Gay Clubs and Straight Customers
Crippled_Newsie
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 7024

posted 27 February 2006 09:10 AM      Profile for Crippled_Newsie     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post
Times:
quote:
GAY clubs will risk prosecution if they deny entry to heterosexual customers under new laws intended to protect homosexuals from discrimination.
Under regulations to be published next month it will be illegal for a gay bar or nightclub to exclude anyone on the grounds of sexual orientation.

The full implications of the new law have caused alarm among gay rights activists, who are surprised at the perverse effects of a measure they believed would advance their civil rights.

They are also worried that it could erode the atmosphere of homosexual clubs and expose gays to homophobic customers.

“A lot of people are very anxious indeed about having to open their doors to what they perceive to be hostile straight people,” said Haydon Bridge, a columnist for QX International magazine.
...
“Gay men are getting very annoyed because teenage girls on alcopops are coming to gawp at gay boys having a cuddle, and things are even worse in the sticks. I’ve talked to bar owners who have had to put security on the doors to keep straight people out because ‘lads’ are going in there to cause trouble.”


[ 27 February 2006: Message edited by: Crippled_Newsie ]


From: It's all about the thumpa thumpa. | Registered: Oct 2004  |  IP: Logged
Reality. Bites.
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6718

posted 27 February 2006 09:19 AM      Profile for Reality. Bites.        Edit/Delete Post
There have been similar laws in effect in North America for decades. I think they're panicking for nothing.
From: Gone for good | Registered: Aug 2004  |  IP: Logged
marzo
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 12096

posted 27 February 2006 09:37 AM      Profile for marzo     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post
Bars and restaurants deny admission to people all the time, because of dress code sins or fashion crimes. Don't they also kick people out for bad behaviour? I think they call it private property rights but I don't know what are the limits to such rights.
From: toronto | Registered: Feb 2006  |  IP: Logged
Cueball
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4790

posted 27 February 2006 09:40 AM      Profile for Cueball   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post
What people do, and what is nominally unlawful are two seperate things.

[ 27 February 2006: Message edited by: Cueball ]


From: Out from under the bridge and out for a stroll | Registered: Dec 2003  |  IP: Logged
Stargazer
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6061

posted 27 February 2006 07:26 PM      Profile for Stargazer     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post
I'm not sure I understand. I am a female, sometimes I go to all boy gay bars. Sometimes myself and my gay friends, we take straight boys. Big fucking deal. I'm not exactly sure what this is supposed to mean or do. I can't see a bunch of homophobic straight guys heading out to Fly anytime soon.
From: Inside every cynical person, there is a disappointed idealist. | Registered: Jun 2004  |  IP: Logged
RP.
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 7424

posted 27 February 2006 07:36 PM      Profile for RP.     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post
I'm trying to imagine the "no breeders need apply" signs.

"If the dude likes women, we won't let him in."


From: I seem to be having tremendous difficulty with my lifestyle | Registered: Nov 2004  |  IP: Logged
Makwa
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 10724

posted 27 February 2006 08:04 PM      Profile for Makwa   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post
quote:
Originally posted by Stargazer:
I can't see a bunch of homophobic straight guys heading out to Fly anytime soon.
I remember the days when tanked up suburbanites used to try to crash the gay and lez clubs to cause trouble. When I was a young fella and used to go with friends, sometimes I got a couple of questions, and my pals would have to stand up for me, but that's part of getting along. It's just another way of tormenting the underclass. Damn I hate st8 people sometimes.

From: Here at the glass - all the usual problems, the habitual farce | Registered: Oct 2005  |  IP: Logged
thwap
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 5062

posted 27 February 2006 08:05 PM      Profile for thwap        Edit/Delete Post
Howz anybuddy s'posed to no?

Don't straight wimmen go to straight clubs waren shirts that say "Leave Me Alone"?

I s'pose tho, that just like bushloving reporter-stifling right-wingers became free-speech activists for a day when Islam is being mocked, they'll also become anti-discrimination zealots for an evening, .. before it's back to work denying jobs, bank loans, club memberships, to minorities and homosexuals.


From: Hamilton | Registered: Feb 2004  |  IP: Logged
Andy (Andrew)
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 10884

posted 27 February 2006 08:30 PM      Profile for Andy (Andrew)   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post
One bar here gets around this issue by making it "members only" and you have to have a referral from an existing member to get in.

I don't think that the big issue is violence it's just turning it into some kind of fag zoo or having it half straight people. Straight people have every other bar in the city and sometimes it's nice to just be with your own community.


From: Alberta | Registered: Nov 2005  |  IP: Logged
Reality. Bites.
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6718

posted 27 February 2006 08:40 PM      Profile for Reality. Bites.        Edit/Delete Post
It's generally a non-issue. We've had anti-discrimination laws in Canada (Quebec) since 1977, and there are still men's bars and women's bars. Bars of all kinds being something of a meet/meat market, people have little interest in hanging out in the ones with the "wrong" crowd. Pan-sexual dance clubs are another matter, of course.

Most straight people have no particular desire to hang out in gay bars unless they have gay friends. Those with friends are not a problem and are generally welcome.

The ones with bad intentions are going to provide ample reason to boot them out without their sexual orientation being an issue.


From: Gone for good | Registered: Aug 2004  |  IP: Logged
Andy (Andrew)
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 10884

posted 27 February 2006 08:58 PM      Profile for Andy (Andrew)   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post
Geography might make some difference.

I agree that most straight people come with friends - just about 100% but not everyone feels it's appropriate. At least not here.


From: Alberta | Registered: Nov 2005  |  IP: Logged
Screaming Lord Byron
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4717

posted 27 February 2006 10:59 PM      Profile for Screaming Lord Byron     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post
quote:
Originally posted by thwap:
Howz anybuddy s'posed to no?


I seem to recall that in Queensland under Sir Joh, when they had effectively banned gay bars by having laws against serving 'deviants', there was a spate of 'Serve Me, I'm Straight' T-Shirts.

If you wait long enough, everything comes back as farce.


From: Calgary | Registered: Dec 2003  |  IP: Logged
Crippled_Newsie
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 7024

posted 28 February 2006 11:05 PM      Profile for Crippled_Newsie     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post
Armed gang attacks British gay bar

quote:
An armed gang attacked a gay bar in the northern England city of Sheffield over the weekend, terrifying patrons and trashing the venue in what police have described as a homophobic attack.

According to South Yorkshire police, five men entered Club X-es in Sheffield early Sunday morning with weapons, smashing windows, breaking beer pumps and threatening drinkers.

Three people were hurt in the attack....
...
Detective Nathan Hoole said...

...that the gang shouted insults at patrons and set out to deliberately cause damage to the bar. The attack was thought to be over within minutes.

"We believe they came with the intention of causing damage and that people who got in their way got assaulted," he said. "They came brandishing weapons, so this was pre-planned...."



From: It's all about the thumpa thumpa. | Registered: Oct 2004  |  IP: Logged
Hephaestion
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4795

posted 28 February 2006 11:14 PM      Profile for Hephaestion   Author's Homepage        Edit/Delete Post
Well, THAT ought to settle the pooh-poohers hash...

Maybe Peter Tatchell and Co. should start organizing some paramilitary queer groups. (And I'm only partly kidding. You can only take violence so long before you hit back...)

From: goodbye... :-( | Registered: Dec 2003  |  IP: Logged
Boarsbreath
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 9831

posted 01 March 2006 09:46 PM      Profile for Boarsbreath   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post
Yes, I was going to say...doesn't anybody realise you live in Canada? This is England the story's about. I would have thought it impossible over much of England for a gay club to be open to everyone...you can kick them out if they get violent? Come on! You can kick out a dozen organised men? No you can't. You can have a war, yes, but that's what they want and not what the clubbers want.

Mind you, I also can't believe the gay supporters of the bill are surprised. So what do I know?

Too much fightin on de dance floor
Oh-oh in a de Ghost-town


From: South Seas, ex Montreal | Registered: Jul 2005  |  IP: Logged
Boarsbreath
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 9831

posted 01 March 2006 09:50 PM      Profile for Boarsbreath   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post
Yes, I was going to say...doesn't anybody realise you live in Canada? This is England the story's about. I would have thought it impossible over much of England for a gay club to be open to everyone...you can kick them out if they get violent? Come on! You can kick out a dozen organised men? No you can't. You can have a war, yes, but that's what they want and not what the clubbers want.

Mind you, I also can't believe the gay supporters of the bill are surprised. So what do I know?

Too much fightin on de dance floor
Oh-oh in a de Ghost-town


From: South Seas, ex Montreal | Registered: Jul 2005  |  IP: Logged
jrose
babble intern
Babbler # 13401

posted 05 June 2007 06:28 AM      Profile for jrose     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post
It seems a club in Melbourne won the right to "restrict" the number of heterosexual and lesbian customers granted access into the club, out of a need for safety and comfort of gay men who frequent the club. This differs from a club in Montreal who is currently facing legal action after asking a female patron to leave the patio, because they "do not serve women."

Montreal woman refused service at gay bar says rights violated

These are two very different issues I'm sure, but I'm curious to see some reaction on both of them.

Listen to the latest Editor's Choice podcast for more background.


From: Ottawa | Registered: Oct 2006  |  IP: Logged
kropotkin1951
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2732

posted 05 June 2007 08:58 AM      Profile for kropotkin1951   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post
In Canada we have laws tht say if a service is available to the public you cannot deny some people service on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, religion etc. etc. You can however start your own club for members only and get to say who those members are.

This isn't about rights it is about this "club" wanting to have the advantage of walk in traffic off the street but without the responsibility to serve everyone who wants to drink there. If they are allowed to then what other bar is allowed to deide who they will and will not serve. And how do you tell the gender of a female "impersonator"?


From: North of Manifest Destiny | Registered: Jun 2002  |  IP: Logged
jrose
babble intern
Babbler # 13401

posted 05 June 2007 09:21 AM      Profile for jrose     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post
quote:
And how do you tell the gender of a female "impersonator"?

I felt the same way with the issue of patrons sexual orientation. Last time I checked we don't carry I.D cards with our sexual preference clearly outlined on them, so what gives a bouncer the right to say I or anyone else identifies myself as one way, or another.


From: Ottawa | Registered: Oct 2006  |  IP: Logged
Michelle
Moderator
Babbler # 560

posted 05 June 2007 09:33 AM      Profile for Michelle   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post
Since we have a more recent thread started on this topic, I've referenced this older one in it, and I'll direct y'all to the newer one, where we're already talking about the Montreal story.
From: I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell. | Registered: May 2001  |  IP: Logged

All times are Pacific Time  

Post New Topic  
Topic Closed  Topic Closed
Open Topic    Move Topic    Delete Topic next oldest topic   next newest topic
Hop To:

Contact Us | rabble.ca | Policy Statement

Copyright 2001-2008 rabble.ca