Photo: The Peel Hotel’s strip bar- Courtesy, QGuide
VICTORIA, Australia – Since 2007, The Peel Hotel in Victoria, Australia was allowed to ask patrons if they are gay or straight and refuse to let the “breeders” enter the premises. But in a new ruling by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, they are taking away The Peel’s exception to the state’s Charter of Human Rights. The hotel must now let all patrons in.
The original point of only allowing gay males in was to protect the guests inside from straight guys who want to cause trouble, but the tribunal ruled that The Peel, “must explain the nature of the venue to prospective patrons … and to permit them to choose whether or not to enter.”
The pub can still bar those it believes may threaten the safety or comfort of patrons or the pub’s nature as a gay bar.
The owners of The Peel did not oppose the changes. No incidents at the bar were reported over the New Year’s Eve holiday.