Australian gay bar wins right to ban 'predatory females'

A gay bar in Collingwood, Melbourne, has won the right to ban women to ensure its patrons are not subjected to attempts by predatory females to turn them straight. Sircuit Bar was granted an exemption to anti-discrimination laws, allowing it to ban women because they make the men uncomfortable.

"The applicant primarily relies on the exemption to exclude women from the venue, other than on Sundays after 3pm," the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) ruled. "This is to ensure that gay men are not subject to attempts to change their sexuality, which reduce their comfort in the venue, which includes being fully accepted for who they are."



Despite the ruling, a spokesman for the venue said the club had never had a problem with women trying to turn gay men straight. "We haven't had that problem here. But it does happen that women try and turn gay men straight," said the general manager, who wanted to be known only as Steve.

"When I was at high school and came out, plenty of my girlfriends said come with me and I'll turn you straight. You'd have to ask VCAT why they made the ruling." VCAT said it was important gay men had a venue where they were not subject to disparaging comments.