Homosexuals in Australia Have Extra Rights
by Jeff Davis
Breitbart news service reports that: “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.”
Now, note the interesting rationalization in the article “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. ‘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,’ [the ironically named owner] 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.’”
Breitbart continues: “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.” (more…)