MELBOURNE - A Melbourne pub owner who won the right to refuse entry to heterosexuals says the move was necessary to provide gay men a safe and comfortable venue.
The management of Collingwood's Peel Hotel in inner Melbourne won the right to refuse entry to heterosexuals in alandmark ruling at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal last week.
Pub owner-manager Tom McFeely said the move was necessary to provide gay men a non-threatening atmosphere to freely express their sexuality.
"If I can limit the number of heterosexuals entering the Peel, then that helps me keep the safe balance effectively," Mr McFeely told Southern Cross Broadcasting.
Mr McFeely said that while the pub welcomed everyone, its gay clientele had expressed discomfort over the number of heterosexuals and lesbians coming to the venue over the past year.
"We've had instances in the past where, for example, a buck's night has come up to the Peel or a hen's night - our whole atmosphere changes immensely," he said.
Mr McFeely said that prior to the ruling it was illegal to refuse entry to a large group of people based on sexuality, making gay male clients uncomfortable and unable to freely express their sexuality.
He said there were more than 2000 venues in Melbourne that catered to heterosexuals, but his pub was the only one marketing itself predominantly to gay men.
"We're the only one out of 2000 venues in Melbourne. Those heterosexuals have other places to go to, my homosexuals do not," he said.
"The only place they can feel comfortable and safe is the Peel and that's the reason.
"I want to protect that and recently (with) the amount of heterosexuals and lesbians, some guys are saying to me over the last year or so ... we don't feel comfortable anymore."
