Heaven homeless again
Beverly Buttercup has called on the western Sydney GLBT community to boycott the Parramatta Golf Club after a disagreement which has once again left the Heaven Social Group without a venue.
After a prolonged search for a venue the group last month announced they would be moving to the Golf Club in 2009. Those plans were shelved this week after the club decided to go back on a verbal agreement and raise the venue fees by threefold to $500 a booking.
The club also asked the not-for-profit organisation to pay for its own security guards at a further cost of $500.
It is very disheartening that a club that has made tens of thousands of dollars off the GLBT community through Castaways and Dolphins for over 11 years is now taking this attitude, Buttercup told Sydney Star Observer.
Personally I am so disgusted that they are not prepared to stand by their verbal commitment to our group, and I have advised Rita who runs Dolphins that I will not be returning to the club to perform as I will not support a club that will not support the GLBT community in its entirety.
It is time to stand up for yourself as a GLBT member and choose to support those who support the GLBT community.
A spokesman from the Parramatta Golf Club denied claims that the organisation had gone back on a verbal agreement but declined to comment, saying they did not wish to get involved in a mudslinging match.
Heaven will now continue its search for a venue in the west.
info: For more information on Heaven Social Group or to keep updated on their quest for a venue email [email protected]
Here! Here! We need some rich lady or man, to come forward and buy us a new venue…coffee shop by day, club at night…like in The L Word :)
time to make your own venue.
Hey Mikey:
Honestly – a really good suggestion. But sadly I don’t think that is going to happen in western sydney in the near future.
I have been intimately involved in searching for a new venue with Bev, and it’s horribly demoralising.
We have yet to come across a venue that would allow a gay night every Saturday night. With some venues you’re pushing for even one night every two months!
The other problem is that the GLBT community would not come out and support it enough to make it viable. The costs associated with running a night are higher than most suspect, and people are not really prepared to pay much for entry – it’s a catch 22…
In a perfect world there would be a gay owned and operated venue we could use out west… but I think at the moment that’s just a dream.
Honestly, the gay & lesbian community out west needs to better co-ordinate its activities. Find a venue that can cater to the needs of all groups on every Saturday nite. The problem now is that its hard to follow whats on where. Is it Parrmatta Golf club?, is it Rosehill Bowling Club?, etc, etc.
Find a reasonable venue and run something every Saturday nite. This makes it easier to for us out west to know where to go every saturday if we are not interested in the antics of Oxford Street.
Its time we had a permanent home rather than a ‘gypsy’ social existance out here.
All the best Bev in finding something. I’ll try and think myslf of something suitable.
Life still Goes on my dears!!!!
Cancel Heaven, its boring and the worst thing ever!!! Why waste your time.
There is also UNITY further down south at Wollongong which Miss Cup has performed at this year. Our next dance is on November 29th. further details at http://www.unity-wollongong.org.
Francois : Thanks for that, I have no idea where it is though.
In responce to Francois the details would be nice, then we can all enjoy the night too :) like who when and where?
Commenting to Brigs: There is actually a gay night down south in Sutherland.
I use to goto gay nights out west allot, the crowd is always nicer/aproachable then the city and the drinks are cheaper to, its actually safer then the city these days, I hope Heaven does find another place and im sure people will stop going if Beverly isnt there, I mean a gay club without a drag queen would be really dull and simply wouldnt work.
Why not come down south Beverly?? – we dont have any gay nights here.
Well Miss Buttercup, hasn’t it all just turned into a big a mess!
After having been closely involved with the negotiations between Heaven and the Parramatta Golf Club, I am also disgusted by their actions.
No matter what comments they have provided to the SSO, we know that they did commit to providing a home to Heaven, and certainly not at nearly $1000 a pop.
I stand by your decision not to return to the venue to perform.
People may not understand your decision, and for them I say – put yourselves in Bev’s shoes. If a venue made a commitment to you and then backed out almost 1 month later following media advertising which promoted them – would you return? I think not.
As you said – it is time for everyone to make their own individual choice. If you wish to go support and give money to a venue that is not remotely interested in supporting the GLBT community in it’s entirety – then so be it.
I am not.
Good on you Bev for bringing this news to the communities attention and standing up to ask people to make their own tough choice – just like you have done. It will be interesting to see what each person decides…
As a patron of Heaven,Dolphins, Diamond & Pearls and other venues in western Sydney it is disheartening to see venues closes one after the other due to various reasons.
I will continue to support Heaven where ever they may find a home, and I wish them all the best in this, however I am sorry to say to Dolphins, now, that I will not return there as I choose no not support a club that has no self respect or honor. As a salesperson when a verbal agreement is entered into it must be honored. To the Parramatta Golf Club, I look upon your club with sorrow, as this kind of attitute can lead to your doors being closed, as more and more of your patrons, like myself, say goodbye.
Strong words indeed from Ms Buttercup, but these words are maybe what was needed after this club had gotten Heaven’s hopes up, only to leave the night homeless again.
Maybe it is Ok for the venue to see a few girls holding hands – especially if they are spending money at the venue. Perhaps they do not want a collection of boys doing the same?
Time to hit the road in your search once again for another venue Ms Buttercup, so western patrons can have a choice of heading to the City or to a venue closer to home.
I sincerely wish you good luck.