Gay business owners attacked
A gay-operated cafe in Maroubra has been forced to take down its rainbow flag after the owners were verbally and physically assaulted. Randwick’s openly gay mayor responded with disappointment, but maintained that this was a one-off incident.
On the Sunday after Mardi Gras the owner of the Mr Big Stuff Cafe, John Miller, placed a rainbow flag outside his premises. Four days later he was forced to take it down.
I’d often thought it’d be a good thing to do but just never had the guts to, Miller, who has run the business for 10 years, said.
Everyone knows we’re a gay couple who live on the corner -” two queens down the street. So we’re tolerated, but with the flag that just created a little bit of a scene.
Did we cop it from the local topless boys. They hurled abuse at us and told me to -˜get that fucking gay flag down’ or they would piss on it.
We braved three days of continual abuse, screams from passing cars and on Sunday morning two guys came in and had a niggle at me saying that they wouldn’t go down Oxford St waving a 2035 [Maroubra Beach’s postcode] flag.
We left it out for four days and after that I thought, -˜there’s been too many comments about this and they’re not all good, so let’s get it down’.
Miller alleges that he called police, who never responded. Eastern Suburbs Police have denied the claim.
We’ve conducted a comprehensive search on our systems in relation to the Mr Big Stuff Cafe and the latest recorded event was on December 13 2008, so there has been nothing reported, a spokesman for Police Media told Sydney Star Observer.
Reported homophobic violence has definitely not hit our radar in or around the Maroubra area, so it’s not a problem that we’ve been notified about.
Randwick City Council agreed that this was the first case of anti-gay violence they had heard of.
I feel extremely disappointed about the homophobic behaviour towards the owners of Mr Big Stuff Cafe, Randwick mayor Bruce Notley-Smith told Sydney Star Observer.
We should all be proud of the diversity of cultures and people that make up the community of Randwick City -” which of course includes our gay and lesbian residents and businesspeople.
Thankfully, this sort of behaviour is not commonplace in our community. It disturbs me that any business or resident, especially one that has been a part of our city for so long, could be subjected to such disgusting behaviour.
info: The Mr Big Stuff Cafe is at 24 McKeon St, Maroubra Beach.
Hi everyone, I would just like to reply to the narranderra comments :)
I have lived in narrandera for approx 7yrs now with my partner *shock there IS gays there*, during this time I have owned a successful cafe and private catering business. I have always been open with my sexuality and would like to think i am a respected member of the community. Sure it may not be a thriving metropolitan city, but its been a great home for us, aswell as the other same sex couples… Not sure how long lived here for but you must have been hiding under a rock. And remember times do change just like people so if you lived here 20yrs ago please keep any future comments to yourself :)
Hello,
This is sad to read, along with the increasing conflicts in the gay club areas in Sydney. I and my partner are going there in late May, and reading these stories make me only think of how our worlds are closer than we think. In San Francisco, yes, San Francisco, things like this used to happen, and still DOES, but it is not as bad.
It is bec. of a group of volunteers, from the LGBT community, business owners, party goers, police, and local gov’t got together and did something about it. Little brief below. Really, from other articles, i can see you all seem to have the key folks there, they just need to get together and do something about it… not only for the sake of the LGBT community, but also, for the sake of GAY money or business income since more crimes = less visitor dollars. Think of plus-plus situations folks.
Anyway, as for me and my partner, well, we are still going and hoping for a great time in Sydney, but still refreshing our “streetwise” skills.
Peace out, Kai
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Hey
Sorry that the street wasn’t so understanding but remember your main true friends accept you both as you are…..:-}
We all love you both John and Morris don’t let losers get you down.Michelle and chossy
Mr Big Stuff Cafe is doing the local gays proud in Maroubra. Its not my suburb, but im heading there for sunday breaky this weekend. You go boys!
Jason – I can’t say I look at the licencee signs of pubs to see who they are run by. However, given that 97% of people are straight then perhaps being straight is the default position and that a licencee sign stating “Mr and Mrs” above a doorway is not making a statement the way that a rainbow flag is.
Still, if a business wants to make a statement and put a rainbow flag out the front they should certainly be allowed to without being hassled by bogans or other dimwits.
Obviously Bruce Notley-Smith is prepared to let the homophobes win. Being “disappointed” is not enough! You obviously ok about letting the homophobes have the upper hand in your city. Don’t!
James – “I don’t know why they’d want to advertise as a gay-run business anyway” – Well I dont know why married hetrosexuals would want to advertise as a hetrosexually run business, I mean James have you not seen signs on the likes of pubs stating the proprietors are Mr and Mrs something, or in accommodation books it even has the pictures of the married couples who run/own the accomodation. So James here’s my question why would married hetrosexuals would want to advertise as a hetrosexually run business ?
Nobody is born homophobic – people choose to be intollerant and rude to other people. Question: Why would anybody want to be rude and intollerant of other people ? Answer: Religion.
Smaller Towns are more willing to be tolerant because theres very little Gay Activists among them!
I have lived in Narrandera and Moree.
Both are very lovely little towns.
Oliver you should consider a move to either town.
Don’t forget to take your rainbow flag !
I think no matter how much we preach about tolerance and freedom to have our opinions, the last few hundred years of homophobic repression wont disappear that quickly. The only thing we can do is be better than those who insult us. Become Mayors, Wealthy Business men, Lawyers, Prime Ministers. I think that would be infinately more satisfying than fighting back.
Whats the worse they can do? Call us faggot from a passing car. Wow really original.
Go the Mr Big Stuff Cafe for having the Stuff to show your true colours. You have my custom.
Why serve that community?
Sell the business and move some place where the people don’t hate you and serve them.
Mayor of Randwick Bruce Notley-Smith demanded a V8 Mayoral Car instead of the hybrid Prius that had been used by previous Labor and Green Mayors. Perhaps Bruce could visit these cafe owners and show some support? It should be comfortable ride…
Gary, have you ever been to Narrandera? to make such judgements? Ive lived in a few smaller Towns that do have a rainbow flag on the premises and these places are more tolerant than Sydney. Yes there are Gays in Narrandera as there are in Alice Springs and Bundaberg. You definately wouldnt be the only Gay in the Village. (Sigh!)
I think this story is a reminder to us all living outside the gay ghetto and expressing support for homosexuality by flying a rainbow flag can be dangerous and risky.
I would no longer walk down the streets of Auburn carrying a rainbow flag then I would choose to go and live in Narrandera.
Not because Narrandera is a bad place to live,it’s just that I would most probably be the only gay living in the village.
I have learnt the majority of folk are intolerant to the lifestyles of gays and lesbians.
Councillor Notley-Smith is a good man.
No point in calling him gutless or unworthy.
We as a community have to work just a-bit harder to get the message out to our fellow Australians that we are all part of the Australian family-entitled to respect.
What a piss-poor excuse from gay mayor Cr Notley-Smith. Obviously it was not a one-off after they had been targeted several times. He should be ashamed of himself.
I don’t know why they’d want to advertise as a gay-run business anyway, but they should have the right to do so if they want to without getting hassled for it.
Full kudos to the cafe owners for making a stand! Their courage has shone a spotlight on the reality of being gay outside of select postcodes.
As for the gay Mayor of Randwick – how about flying the Rainbow Flag on Council flagpoles during Mardi Gras next year?