Lockout laws discriminate LGBTI revellers

Lockout laws discriminate LGBTI revellers

LAST week Superintendent Tony Crandell told the Star Observer’s readers to remember the new liquor laws (the Sydney CBD lockout laws). He said this in the context of our community being safe during the upcoming Mardi Gras weekend. I think Tony is doing a great job; I dealt with him personally and extensively after the events of Mardi Gras 2013 and I found him to be very helpful and ultimately good for his word.

So I mean no disrespect to Tony whatsoever, when I say that the lockout laws are going to have little impact on improving the safety of our community, during Mardi Gras or after the festival and indeed these new laws could contribute to an increase in danger for our community.

I get concerned for our community members every time I see them out in Surry Hills, Darlinghurst. I am particularly concerned for the gay boys because I know, from experience, they are the ones targeted most by thugs and they seem particularly vulnerable to street violence. On weekends in particular, they are out in numbers on the Oxford St ‘strip’ – moving between venues and enjoying the relative safety of a quick walk from say the Shift to Phoenix or even to ARQ. The lockout laws will result in an increase of gay boys being shut out of venues and effectively being at the mercy of other would-be patrons of various venues on our streets. The lockout laws will result in an increase of people finding themselves locked out and with nowhere to go. In some ways these new laws effectively discriminate against our community and potentially make us more vulnerable to street violence.

That’s because the lockout laws cover an area of Sydney primarily used by our community for entertainment purposes. Our heterosexual friends can go off to Marquee at The Star or The Greenwood at North Sydney or any various other straight venues. But our community relies on ARQ, Stonewall, The Columbian, Phoenix, Palms, The Shift and Slide (to name a few) for our entertainment. If we can’t go to Surry Hills and Darlinghurst for our fun; where do we go? I say this because these establishments are not just entertainment venues, in reality they are our sanctuaries. The lockout laws will do nothing to improve the community’s safety. Indeed, thousands of people are going to end up on the streets at the time of the lockout and our community will find themselves dressed in gay garb mixing with thugs from straight venues.

Let’s take ARQ as an example. It is known for its well-trained security staff. They’re not over-friendly, but they know ARQ’s clientele and they’re sympathetic to protecting us, both on the street and inside the venue. The bar staff are pretty strict when it comes to not selling alcohol to obviously-intoxicated patrons. Places like this are our safe places. They are the venues where we can put our sexuality on display and not be censored through peer pressure or hindered by homophobic staff. If service can’t be provided to us in our safe havens, our sanctuaries after 3am then where do we go? The straight community has options that we do not.

I can’t imagine being free to express ourselves in straight venues without becoming targets of derision, taunts or outright violence. You would all agree it isn’t likely you would ever see two boys or two girls dancing intimately at the Coogee Bay Hotel or any other straight venue.

Until such times that the NSW Government considers some exemptions for our community, we are all very much restricted in our entertainment options.

So, I guess for now the best advice anyone can give for this weekend is to ensure you’re at the Party. The big one. That’s right, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Party 2014 does not fall within the lockout area – so go get your tickets for the big event and see you all on the dance floor.

 

 

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5 responses to “Lockout laws discriminate LGBTI revellers”

  1. I am gay but don’t see it as the centre of the universe. Stacey you really are being too self obsessed. Your comments read like a rant from an ideologue who has defined her life in a very obsessive way. No one cares about sexuality anymore we have moved on. These new laws are just new laws. They will work or fail to work…that is all let it go!!!

  2. I disagree with you Stacey when you say that the new lock out laws are targetting the GLBTI community.

    The new lockout laws are a response to the wider community demands that the government take steps to address alcohol related violence. The GLBTI community does not stand outside the rest of the NSW community Stacey, and Darlinghurst is not an island exempt from alcohol related violence or the law.

  3. Oh phealeese! The government acted across the board locking out anyone and everyone because we as a whole society abdicated our collective social responsibility to curb street violence to politicians. There was nothing intentionally discriminatory or anti homosexual about their actions. In any interviews with police that I have seen so far today, they are starkly aware of the new situation created by these new laws. I guess the real question is do we really want to be a part of the broader society accepting and taking on the responsibilities that requires or do we forever want to be separate and ‘special’? For me, I opt for being a member of the broader social network. And for the record – yes I too have been the victim of a violent homophobic attack on the Gold Coast.

  4. I hate your new site and layout – who ever designed this should be slapped with a brick, it’s frustrating to try and open your weekly publication!! Please change it back!!

  5. Agree 100% with Stacey. (Though, sub-editors, why dumb down the appeal of her article by murdering her English? “Discriminate against”!)