This thread will deteriorate uncontrolably!
Posted on 05/30/2007 12:23:55 PM PDT by presidio9
MELBOURNE, Australia - A gay bar has won the right to turn away heterosexuals and even lesbians to provide a non-threatening atmosphere for the men partying inside.
A tribunal in Australia's southern Victoria state granted Melbourne's Peel Hotel an exemption to equal rights laws, saying it was needed to prevent "sexually based insults and violence" aimed at the pub's patrons.
In her findings, the tribunal's deputy president, Cate McKenzie, said Monday that to allow large numbers of straight men and women and lesbians into the bar could "undermine or destroy" the convivial atmosphere that the Peel Hotel sought to create for gay men.
McKenzie said there was evidence some straight patrons were going to the bar to use the predominantly gay customers as a form of entertainment.
"To regard the gay male patrons of the venue as providing an entertainment or spectacle to be stared at, as one would at an animal at a zoo, devalues and dehumanizes them," she was quoted by News Ltd. newspapers as saying.
The pub will now be able to advertise that it will turn away straight people, and its door staff will be able to ask people whether they are gay before allowing them inside.
Australia's Equal Opportunities Act bars discrimination for race, religion or sexuality, but exemptions are allowed.
The head of Victoria's Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission applauded the decision.
"These exemptions exist to protect groups in the community who are subject to being treated less favorably, or treated unfairly compared with other groups," she told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio Tuesday.
"In this case, what we know is that there are many options for heterosexuals males to enjoy a safe, social environment."
I mean, the double standard implications for freedom of association and other rights are appalling, but the original scenario is hilarious.
No, just ask questions like: What did Liza Minelli wear in her last appearance on Broadway?.....
This thread will deteriorate uncontrolably!
Anyone who's been to college will tell you that guys will do almost anything for cheap beer.
I can’t help but view the entire lawsuit as a waste of time.
Unless of course someone can show that their actually are straight guys with a desire to patronize gay bars.
Just be thankful that the ruling didn’t force hetero’s to patronize gay bars against their will.
Hey!...Good!...thanks for stopping me before I go in!
I've NEVER been THAT desperate for beer...........
No because then Monica Lewinsky who is heterosexual would fail it.
I wonder if that bar fields a softball team? I bet they command a cwack wegion and wank as high as any in Wome!
Nor have I.
Are you envisioning a doorman who requires proof of homosexuality before entry?
Can you imagine why any straight person would stare at this spectacle?? They certainly haven't done anything bizarre to attract unwanted attention to themselves.
LOL something smells like dookie.
I'm sorry. Was that dehumanizing? (:^D)
Am I to understand they are born this way and their GENE’s force them into this kind of dress?
Oh, I get it now. They really are neo-nazis. They just don't want anyone spying on them.
"Breathalyzer? Oh yummy! It's an orgy! Me first!" (:^D)
In the 1970’s I was on a submarine that visited Melbourne and we went into several bars. Around 7:00 we were asked for our “card”. Since we did not have one, we were asked to leave.
We found out from our taxi driver that after 7:00 that bar was reserved for gays and the state actually issued cards to gays.
We never went back - course at that time being basically kids we were surprised to see police with no weapons either.
Interesting place.
How else will they know?
So much for my vacation plans.
Just a bunch of normal-looking guys. Nothing out of the ordinary.
/sarc
Where was that picture taken, anyway? Somewhere in SF?
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