It’s a brave new world in queer pub land, or is it?

This week the Peel Hotel in Collingwood nailed its colors to the flagpole announcing a VCAT exemption, which effectively allows management to limit the number of straight men, women and lesbians in the venue on any given night. Peel manager, Tom McFeely’s reasoning is to protect the ‘gay male’ integrity of the venue.

“The Peel has always specifically targeted Gay Male clientele, and in order to protect the integrity of the venue as well as maintain the safety and comfort of those gay males, the Peel sought the exemption,” said McFeely in a public notice following the ruling.

“The Peel continues to welcome everyone who respects the venue and its valued Gay Male customers.”

Of course the straight media has gone to town on this with headlines like: “Straight-out ban at gay venues sparks uproar” (The Age) and “Who's in, who's out” from Andrew Bolt in the Herald Sun (bless his rotten socks).

Given the number of venues in Melbourne that cater almost exclusively to the straight market, we should be making no apology for a night spot that seeks to remain gay – and that’s over and above arguments around hordes of hens or bucks night revelers descending on the Peel to taunt the homosexuals.

Of greater controversy is the singling out of lesbians in this recent Peel door policy.  

Not surprisingly, lesbians are up in arms at this development – it’s never pleasant being told you’re not welcome somewhere, let alone one of the few regular late night spots north of the river.

Of course lesbians may feel differently if it were their stomping ground that was in question.

I remember years ago working at The Glasshouse back in the good old days when it was very strongly lesbian identified. Initially, it was hard yakka (what would a drag queen be doing in a lesbian venue?) but with Rainbow Coalition values in mind, we were determined to make the gig work.

To our credit within a month or two Saturday nights at The Glasshouse were soon attracting a more mixed crowd. But that mix rarely topped 30 per cent men to 70 per cent women.

By all intention (and if you like, ‘integrity’) The Glasshouse remained a lesbian venue and, for the gay guys that did come along, this was the attraction: to take a breather from gay male spaces and party with the girls on their turf.

I suspect the organisers of Girlbar would have something to say about this mix and match recipe and Blonde on the Rocks, while appealing predominately to women, welcomes gay men.

There is certainly something to be said for mixed spaces.

But one size does not fit all.

Alongside mixed spaces, surely there’s also room for single-sex social spaces. While coalition is a mighty powerful force in lobbying for law reform and staring down heterosexual bigots at events like Mardi Gras and Pride March, the same does not necessarily wash for cultural social spaces. Sometimes lesbian and gay interests meet, sometimes they don’t. Gay men have as much right to their own social space as do lesbians.

At the end of the day it comes down to respecting our difference, sexual and otherwise.

Thought of the fortnight – if straight women and lesbians are to be turned away at the door of the Peel, where does that leave drag queens and kings?

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