In general this sounds stupid. But in some way I can see the point. What about lesbian bars for women only?
I went to one many years ago in Montreal - separatist in several ways, as it was Quebecoise. The funny thing was, I was brought there by a friend who was very obviously a guy, but somehow no one noticed him come in. He didn't know about the policy. When I went to the bar for a second round of drinks, the bartender was less friendly and had switched to English, and explained politely but firmly that we would have to leave.
But this did not seem outrageous to any of us, we were just a little embarrassed, and went to a different bar.
Of course a gay bar has the right to ban heterosexuals. I seriously can't understand why anyone would say otherwise. If heterosexuals want to go into gay bars so much, maybe they should try to end homophobia in society so that homosexuals wouldn't need the private space in the first place.
I see your point, but I don't agree that this is a politically sound policy, or even a coherent one. For one thing, I wonder how, exactly, one would go about identifying patrons' sexuality in the first place. Not just at the door, but in general.
Perhaps a better policy would be simply to ban disruptive behaviors.
I wonder who they have in mind exactly. It sounds as if they are bothered by straight women who maybe go there in groups to celebrate their own bacheloreate parties?
But I agree with KB, banning disruptive bahaviors sounds more logical. Until people start carrying IDs with their sexual preferences stated I have no idea how they can maintain the ban. And even then.
Well, I think disruptive behavior is what they're going to go for anyway.
Sometimes men try to search for lesbians because they think they're "hot," and a lot of lesbians are extremely offended by that. Perhaps a similar thing is true with gay men and straight women. I can see why they'd find it "dehumanizing."
5 comments:
In general this sounds stupid. But in some way I can see the point. What about lesbian bars for women only?
I went to one many years ago in Montreal - separatist in several ways, as it was Quebecoise. The funny thing was, I was brought there by a friend who was very obviously a guy, but somehow no one noticed him come in. He didn't know about the policy. When I went to the bar for a second round of drinks, the bartender was less friendly and had switched to English, and explained politely but firmly that we would have to leave.
But this did not seem outrageous to any of us, we were just a little embarrassed, and went to a different bar.
Of course a gay bar has the right to ban heterosexuals. I seriously can't understand why anyone would say otherwise. If heterosexuals want to go into gay bars so much, maybe they should try to end homophobia in society so that homosexuals wouldn't need the private space in the first place.
Arianne,
I see your point, but I don't agree that this is a politically sound policy, or even a coherent one. For one thing, I wonder how, exactly, one would go about identifying patrons' sexuality in the first place. Not just at the door, but in general.
Perhaps a better policy would be simply to ban disruptive behaviors.
I wonder who they have in mind exactly. It sounds as if they are bothered by straight women who maybe go there in groups to celebrate their own bacheloreate parties?
But I agree with KB, banning disruptive bahaviors sounds more logical. Until people start carrying IDs with their sexual preferences stated I have no idea how they can maintain the ban. And even then.
Well, I think disruptive behavior is what they're going to go for anyway.
Sometimes men try to search for lesbians because they think they're "hot," and a lot of lesbians are extremely offended by that. Perhaps a similar thing is true with gay men and straight women. I can see why they'd find it "dehumanizing."
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