Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Equality Part 2
A gay hotel (I don’t know how a hotel can be gay but that is how it has been reported) in Melbourne, Victoria has won an exemption from the Equal Opportunity Act under a ruling by the Victoria State Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). Therefore, management has won the right to refuse entry to heterosexuals.
I am not making any value judgments here but this sort of hypocrisy infuriates me. It is either wrong to discriminate on the basis of sexual preference or it isn’t - you can’t have it both ways (pun intended).
I am of course simplifying what is a complex issue but sometimes this is the best practice. One of the arguments for the decision is that there are many places where heterosexuals can go but very few places where homosexuals can go and not be harassed or vilified. Very few places they can go? This is bulls#%@t - they can go anywhere they damn please - that is the point of anti-discrimination laws. The issue of whether they feel safe is an entirely different matter and I would support any and all steps taken to ensure this is the case. Personal safety is an issue that must be managed for all regardless of any labels we chose to apply to particular groups.
Rant over.
“You can’t coach that”
