This bar owner’s response to a homophobic customer is just perfect

[n2doc]

A bar owner has smacked down a company’s booking for a Christmas party, after they asked whether the venue was “Gay”.

Alex Proud – who runs Proud chain of venues in Camden and central London – tweeted the exchange with a big corporation.

An email from a major international car company – which he did not name – said: “We have our Christmas staff party booked for next Friday at Proud.
“Some of our staff have been told Proud is a Gay bar, is that correct?
“We need to know as it’s against some people’s religion so we will need to make them aware.
“Will we have our own seating area? If you could get back to ASAP that would be great.”

response at link

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/12/07/this-bar-owners-response-to-a-homophobic-customer-is-just-perfect/

Suffice it to say, they will not be having their party at that location....

[blm]

1. Sounds like Enterprise. RWers from St. Louis, Miss.

.

[Kali]

4. oh no, really?

damn, I have done a lot of business with them

[Old Crow]

2. This probably won't be a popular post, but...

... I didn't think the corporate contact's email was deserving of such a rebuff. Frankly, the response struck me as churlish.

Unless you think corporations should be allowed to turn away applicants based on their religious beliefs, it follows that as a corporation, you're going to have some people on staff who are less tolerant of diversity than others. My takeaway from the corporate contact's email was that he or she was preparing to send out a company email along the lines of: "Hey, heads-up: The Christmas gathering is being held at a venue that's comfortable with alternative lifestyles. If, for any reason, some of you are uncomfortable with that, you'll need to make other plans."

I'm not sure why that's a problem.

I'll concede that the inquiry regarding a separate seating area seems homophobic. On the other hand, if I was confirming a reservation for a party, I'd probably be asking the same question about a separate seating area even if it was being held at the Olive Garden. Maybe the writer wanted to ensure that guests who were uptight would be kept away from the regulars. But maybe not. That part of the email is so brief, it's hard to know the thinking behind it.

Flame away, if you must. But I just don't see what's so wrong about the inquiry that was sent to the bar owner.

[Curmudgeoness]

5. I think it was deserved.

And it was hilarious. I would think that this company would have looked into where they booked the Christmas party before making the plans. They should have determined whether there was a private area for the party at the time of the booking. All the details should have been covered prior to making that choice.

The only reason for the inquiry was because they heard it was a gay establishment, and that was apparent.

[Old Crow]

7. I agree partly...

... I agree it's clear that the email was sent because the planner learned that the bar has a large gay clientele. I also agree that the planner doesn't seem to have done much research prior to the booking. But, hey, having been in a major corporation for over a decade, things happen: "John--Can you book the holiday gathering? Get it done ASAP--places are filling up and if we don't book it today, we may be out of luck."

Had the party proceeded, there's a real chance that some from the company would've gotten more enlightened and more educated re: LGBT lifestyles:
"So how was the party?"
"It was a lot of fun."
"I heard it was at Proud? Isn't that a gay place?"
"Yeah, I guess so. I swear, we had so much fun. Met some really fun people, actually. You shoulda gone."

As it is, the company contact was left scrambling to find a new venue when the booking was abruptly cancelled on her or him--in a temperamental pique, IMHO--less than a week out in the holiday season. Not a great way to win friends and influence people.

I fully understand others see this differently, and I'm OK with that.

[Stargazer09]

6. I can see your point

However, the person scheduling the venue in the first place probably should have asked those questions before booking the party.

I don't think your post deserves a flaming.

[Old Crow]

8. Thanks; I appreciate that. :) (No text)

[yardwork]

9. Alternative lifestyles?

I'm gay. It's not a lifestyle to be gay.

I don't even know what you mean by alternative lifestyle. As opposed to what?

[Old Crow]

10. Point taken.

If the term offends you, my apologies. I used the word to mean, literally, "the way a person lives"--not as any suggestion that gay orientation is a choice, akin to a hobby or fashion choice.

Your objection has taught me to ditch that usage; I hadn't even considered the offensive connotations. So thanks.

[yardwork]

11. Thank you. I appreciate your willingness to listen.

Gay people live all kinds of different ways. I have a job, two grown children, a stepchild, a house, two cats, a car payment, etc. My lifestyle is that I get up and go to work Monday through Friday, do yardwork on weekends, visit with my kids, attend school functions and Little League games with my stepson, etc. The only difference is that I'm a woman and so is my partner. That's it. Boring ordinary lifestyle.

[Old Crow]

12. This was a nice exchange. So thank you back and Merry Christmas! :) (N/T)

[yardwork]

13. Merry Christmas!

[oldandhappy]

3. and gay decorations and gay holiday music!

yes, frivolity abounds at our establishment. Sorry you will not be able to enjoy it.

[burrowowl]

14. K&R