Gaycrash Canberra- it begins!

Baldy said :

This looks like it could be fun if you don’t go to entice confrontation.

The cube isn’t really a gay venue anymore. Even the ad on TV is aimed at the str8 crowd. Particulaly girls nights out.

Does Canebrra have a gay nightclub?

Anywhere were people rock-up with a Prius, is gay.

poetix said :

neanderthalsis said :

At the end of the day, I don’t care if my usual drinking hole accommodates a few homosexuals…

So very tempting…
I’m sure they’ll consider the offer.

Comment of the thread!

GaycrashCBR said :

neanderthalsis said :

Realistically (and remembering that this is Canberra), how many “gays” are likely to show up to this? 5? 10? Hardly a flashmob. But how the OP puts it, it sounds like the aim of the event is to be confrontational. A dozen gays having a quiet drink in the corner won’t elicit much comment, whereas 12 pansies mincing about disturbing other patrons will, in much the same way that drunken bogans and obnoxious sports fans ruin a good venue.

At the end of the day, I don’t care if my usual drinking hole accommodates a few homosexuals, as long as they don’t disrupt the other patrons or staff.

I will not reveal the precise number of people who have RSVP’d for the event, suffice to say there will be plenty of mincing pansies, obnoxiously having a few drinks, playing pool and catching up with their gay mates.

At the end of the day, I dont mind if my drinking hole accomodates a few heterosexuals, as long as they dont disturb the gay staff and the gay patrons, while im drinking my gay drink and spreading my gay agenda.

Man, just a hint.

You appear to be young and excited about this new scene.

However, most people really don’t care if you’re gay, straight, black, white, green, whatever.

What they care about is people carrying on like pork chops.

Remember that the world is not really your enemy, just some people who just cannot understand or have extreme religious beliefs.

Have fun, but seriously, don’t go out of your way to piss people off just because you can. All this will do is reinforce negative views and in some cases turn others against you, not for being gay, but for being a complete nob.

This is not a criticism, just some advance.

Unfortunately most people DO care if they are gay or straight and that is the problem. You have just indirectly stated that you care. Just leave them be or go along and have a good time.

GaycrashCBR said :

neanderthalsis said :

Realistically (and remembering that this is Canberra), how many “gays” are likely to show up to this? 5? 10? Hardly a flashmob. But how the OP puts it, it sounds like the aim of the event is to be confrontational. A dozen gays having a quiet drink in the corner won’t elicit much comment, whereas 12 pansies mincing about disturbing other patrons will, in much the same way that drunken bogans and obnoxious sports fans ruin a good venue.

At the end of the day, I don’t care if my usual drinking hole accommodates a few homosexuals, as long as they don’t disrupt the other patrons or staff.

I will not reveal the precise number of people who have RSVP’d for the event, suffice to say there will be plenty of mincing pansies, obnoxiously having a few drinks, playing pool and catching up with their gay mates.

At the end of the day, I dont mind if my drinking hole accomodates a few heterosexuals, as long as they dont disturb the gay staff and the gay patrons, while im drinking my gay drink and spreading my gay agenda.

Man, just a hint.

You appear to be young and excited about this new scene.

However, most people really don’t care if you’re gay, straight, black, white, green, whatever.

What they care about is people carrying on like pork chops.

Remember that the world is not really your enemy, just some people who just cannot understand or have extreme religious beliefs.

Have fun, but seriously, don’t go out of your way to piss people off just because you can. All this will do is reinforce negative views and in some cases turn others against you, not for being gay, but for being a complete nob.

This is not a criticism, just some advance.

Very wise words. I really hope this ends well.

neanderthalsis said :

Realistically (and remembering that this is Canberra), how many “gays” are likely to show up to this? 5? 10? Hardly a flashmob. But how the OP puts it, it sounds like the aim of the event is to be confrontational. A dozen gays having a quiet drink in the corner won’t elicit much comment, whereas 12 pansies mincing about disturbing other patrons will, in much the same way that drunken bogans and obnoxious sports fans ruin a good venue.

At the end of the day, I don’t care if my usual drinking hole accommodates a few homosexuals, as long as they don’t disrupt the other patrons or staff.

I will not reveal the precise number of people who have RSVP’d for the event, suffice to say there will be plenty of mincing pansies, obnoxiously having a few drinks, playing pool and catching up with their gay mates.

At the end of the day, I dont mind if my drinking hole accomodates a few heterosexuals, as long as they dont disturb the gay staff and the gay patrons, while im drinking my gay drink and spreading my gay agenda.

CB43DW said :

Well done guys and gals (and others)…unfortunately, I have to agree with you that there is still extreme discrimination against people that are anything other than straight.

As a happily straight married Mum of a 1 year old, I have fond memories of dancing to the wee hours of the morn in Cube as a youngster..honestly, it was the only place that I felt I could have a great time without guys being sleazy and trying to crack on to you….The gals in Cube did try occasionally (and it was taken as a complement), but a smile and a “sorry, I like the other team” was enough.

Are you happy to accept supporters? I”m sure Granny wouldn’t mind babysitting for an evening 🙂

And an I suggest the Charny Tavern as a venue…I’m sure they’d need a good shake up…plus..Hubby is fully supportive and could provide bouncer assistance 🙂

Dear CB43DW,

The GaycrashCBR crew want to marry you. And your husband. If only we weren’t a bunch of homosexual lesbian, transexual, intersex queers :-)~

In lieu, we’ll just have to get you and hubby a drink tomorrow.

Regards

We love you

A bar full of the only gays in the village. Move over, Little Britain.

Baldy said :

This looks like it could be fun if you don’t go to entice confrontation.

The cube isn’t really a gay venue anymore. Even the ad on TV is aimed at the str8 crowd. Particulaly girls nights out.

Does Canebrra have a gay nightclub?

Bar 32 on Friday nights is pretty gay.

poetix said :

neanderthalsis said :

At the end of the day, I don’t care if my usual drinking hole accommodates a few homosexuals…

So very tempting…
I’m sure they’ll consider the offer.

You could write for Viz magazine with your nous for the double entendre! Hahahaha! 🙂

Baldy said :

The cube isn’t really a gay venue anymore. Even the ad on TV is aimed at the str8 crowd. Particulaly girls nights out.

This is sort of accurate. I know a younger bloke that I used to work with who is a straight patron of Cube. Why? Because he finds it easier to engage with straight females there, and has a higher success rate. His last two girlfriends where both Cube regulars.

This looks like it could be fun if you don’t go to entice confrontation.

The cube isn’t really a gay venue anymore. Even the ad on TV is aimed at the str8 crowd. Particulaly girls nights out.

Does Canebrra have a gay nightclub?

chewy14 said :

Actually,

how are you meant to tell the Gays from the usual metro – tight shirt – skinny jeans – white shoes – Beiber hairdo guys that are usually in Civic every weekend?

Will they be wearing nametags and labels?

No. Generally you can tell because they dance together, are affectionate with each other by constantly touching each other on the back side and staring at the footballers on the TV with their tight shirts over huge mucles and tight shorts. And that’s the metro striaght guys. 😀

The GLBTI’s are the ones that will be sitting there and drinking with their friends. 😀

neanderthalsis said :

At the end of the day, I don’t care if my usual drinking hole accommodates a few homosexuals…

So very tempting…
I’m sure they’ll consider the offer.

Actually,

how are you meant to tell the Gays from the usual metro – tight shirt – skinny jeans – white shoes – Beiber hairdo guys that are usually in Civic every weekend?

Will they be wearing nametags and labels?

Realistically (and remembering that this is Canberra), how many “gays” are likely to show up to this? 5? 10? Hardly a flashmob. But how the OP puts it, it sounds like the aim of the event is to be confrontational. A dozen gays having a quiet drink in the corner won’t elicit much comment, whereas 12 pansies mincing about disturbing other patrons will, in much the same way that drunken bogans and obnoxious sports fans ruin a good venue.

At the end of the day, I don’t care if my usual drinking hole accommodates a few homosexuals, as long as they don’t disrupt the other patrons or staff.

I-filed said :

I think not advising the venue of potentially dozens of extra patrons is juvenile and intended to cause friction, not cohesion. The aim of this shindigs is not in fact to have fun, by the sound of it, but to see whether you can create a nuisance. Why not just advise Canberrans of where you are going and when? People having a quiet beer at the bowls club in Braddon, say, might have perfectly sound reason to not feel like being around a bunch of noisy queers on a particular evening. That doesn’t make them homophobic. Imposing brashness on a “dorky” venue is something people might do in early adolescence. Trying to make it into a sociopolitical statement of some kind is lame, particularly as the Australian community has indicated they are quite comfortable with gay marriage, and gays in general. How about just being comfortable in your skins, and sitting next to the old bloke having a beer at the bar without this weird “let’s annoy” attitude stuff?

LSWCHP said :

…Having said all that, there’s a vibe about the OP that seems unnecessarily combative, even with the urge to keep it friendly. For example, the event is described as “taking over” the venue “without warning”. Maybe I’m reading more into this than is intended, but to me “taking over” implies that more is intended than just “attending” the venue to drink and dance. I hope this isn’t the case because in civilised venues there won’t be a problem, but there’s a lot of places around town where this is likely to end in tears.

Anyway, I hope it doesn’t turn out that way, and everybody has a happy time. and goes home in one piece.

+1 on both counts.

Rollersk8r said :

I-filed said :

I think not advising the venue of potentially dozens of extra patrons is juvenile and intended to cause friction, not cohesion. The aim of this shindigs is not in fact to have fun, by the sound of it, but to see whether you can create a nuisance. Why not just advise Canberrans of where you are going and when? People having a quiet beer at the bowls club in Braddon, say, might have perfectly sound reason to not feel like being around a bunch of noisy queers on a particular evening. That doesn’t make them homophobic. Imposing brashness on a “dorky” venue is something people might do in early adolescence. Trying to make it into a sociopolitical statement of some kind is lame, particularly as the Australian community has indicated they are quite comfortable with gay marriage, and gays in general. How about just being comfortable in your skins, and sitting next to the old bloke having a beer at the bar without this weird “let’s annoy” attitude stuff?

Extremely well said. You and your mates are free to do whatever you like – but no group will gain popularity by dominating a venue and trying hard to be outrageous. Don’t be surprised if you get kicked out – but then that’d be discrimination, wouldn’t it? You win either way.

I guess it’s comparable to the amount of times I’ve gone to pubs/bars like Edgar’s or Suburban and some boring sporting event is on and there are a fair few DHs who don’t mind how loud they get in supporting their team.

From what I gather, the intention isn’t to annoy other patrons, but more to entertain them. The post mentions flashmobs, which are pretty fun. If that’s the case, I doubt they’d be booted. They’ll be buying drinks and giving the owner/s business.

I think it’s a cool idea! 🙂

I think you should speak to the nightclub owner before rocking up with 100 of your friends. Not because of fights or anything, but the bar staff may be overrun from what they would expect to be a quiet night. Your choice though

Have a safe and enjoyable night

I don’t think the aim is to ‘gain popularity’ this isn’t high school. I think it gives people the opportunity to have a nice night out that’s not at CUBE, where there is power in numbers and we wont get harassed.

I-filed said :

I think not advising the venue of potentially dozens of extra patrons is juvenile and intended to cause friction, not cohesion. The aim of this shindigs is not in fact to have fun, by the sound of it, but to see whether you can create a nuisance. Why not just advise Canberrans of where you are going and when? People having a quiet beer at the bowls club in Braddon, say, might have perfectly sound reason to not feel like being around a bunch of noisy queers on a particular evening. That doesn’t make them homophobic. Imposing brashness on a “dorky” venue is something people might do in early adolescence. Trying to make it into a sociopolitical statement of some kind is lame, particularly as the Australian community has indicated they are quite comfortable with gay marriage, and gays in general. How about just being comfortable in your skins, and sitting next to the old bloke having a beer at the bar without this weird “let’s annoy” attitude stuff?

Extremely well said. You and your mates are free to do whatever you like – but no group will gain popularity by dominating a venue and trying hard to be outrageous. Don’t be surprised if you get kicked out – but then that’d be discrimination, wouldn’t it? You win either way.

GaycrashCBR, I get the feeling you’re relatively young and excited to be part of the GLBT scene. I hope it all goes down well and is a fun night for all. However, with alcohol consumption comes confrontational behaviour. I hope you’re prepared to take responsibility for any incidents as the organiser of this event. Good luck.

CB43DW said :

And an I suggest the Charny Tavern as a venue…I’m sure they’d need a good shake up…plus..Hubby is fully supportive and could provide bouncer assistance 🙂

What, hubby is going to fluff the bouncers for you?

Gees, I hope they don’t turn up at Tilleys?

I don’t give a rats who or what people want to have sex with, and I think anybody of any persuasion should be able to go to any pub they want to without harassment or other unpleasantness. It’s sad that that isn’t the case.

Having said all that, there’s a vibe about the OP that seems unnecessarily combative, even with the urge to keep it friendly. For example, the event is described as “taking over” the venue “without warning”. Maybe I’m reading more into this than is intended, but to me “taking over” implies that more is intended than just “attending” the venue to drink and dance. I hope this isn’t the case because in civilised venues there won’t be a problem, but there’s a lot of places around town where this is likely to end in tears.

Anyway, I hope it doesn’t turn out that way, and everybody has a happy time. and goes home in one piece.

Well done guys and gals (and others)…unfortunately, I have to agree with you that there is still extreme discrimination against people that are anything other than straight.

As a happily straight married Mum of a 1 year old, I have fond memories of dancing to the wee hours of the morn in Cube as a youngster..honestly, it was the only place that I felt I could have a great time without guys being sleazy and trying to crack on to you….The gals in Cube did try occasionally (and it was taken as a complement), but a smile and a “sorry, I like the other team” was enough.

Are you happy to accept supporters? I”m sure Granny wouldn’t mind babysitting for an evening 🙂

And an I suggest the Charny Tavern as a venue…I’m sure they’d need a good shake up…plus..Hubby is fully supportive and could provide bouncer assistance 🙂

I-filed said :

I think not advising the venue of potentially dozens of extra patrons is juvenile and intended to cause friction, not cohesion. The aim of this shindigs is not in fact to have fun, by the sound of it, but to see whether you can create a nuisance. Why not just advise Canberrans of where you are going and when? People having a quiet beer at the bowls club in Braddon, say, might have perfectly sound reason to not feel like being around a bunch of noisy queers on a particular evening. That doesn’t make them homophobic. Imposing brashness on a “dorky” venue is something people might do in early adolescence. Trying to make it into a sociopolitical statement of some kind is lame, particularly as the Australian community has indicated they are quite comfortable with gay marriage, and gays in general. How about just being comfortable in your skins, and sitting next to the old bloke having a beer at the bar without this weird “let’s annoy” attitude stuff?

Hear! Hear!!

I doubt they will ever past the bouncers at Mooseheads. Though I would warn you, I believe some of the events around town are bikie controlled (not that there is anything wrong with that – if you like the Village People).

If I want to see Priscilla I would rent the movie.

Otherwise leave the crusty old bastards and hetro chicks wanting a good time, alone, and go back to Heaven.

I-filed said :

I think not advising the venue of potentially dozens of extra patrons is juvenile and intended to cause friction, not cohesion. The aim of this shindigs is not in fact to have fun, by the sound of it, but to see whether you can create a nuisance.

Well it depends. If the intention of the thing is to actually let people know that “hey, we’re just regular people who like to have a beer or ten and hang out and stuff and if it comes up in coversation, BTW we just happen to be gay” then that can’t be a bad thing. And hopefully the bars would welcome the additional business, subject to the fire regulations/maximum occupancy rules etc.

Anything beyond that assumes adherence to various (cliched and, in my experience, unjustified) stereotypes about behaviour, dress, affectations etc which may or may not be well founded. Have to wait and see I suppose.

I think not advising the venue of potentially dozens of extra patrons is juvenile and intended to cause friction, not cohesion. The aim of this shindigs is not in fact to have fun, by the sound of it, but to see whether you can create a nuisance. Why not just advise Canberrans of where you are going and when? People having a quiet beer at the bowls club in Braddon, say, might have perfectly sound reason to not feel like being around a bunch of noisy queers on a particular evening. That doesn’t make them homophobic. Imposing brashness on a “dorky” venue is something people might do in early adolescence. Trying to make it into a sociopolitical statement of some kind is lame, particularly as the Australian community has indicated they are quite comfortable with gay marriage, and gays in general. How about just being comfortable in your skins, and sitting next to the old bloke having a beer at the bar without this weird “let’s annoy” attitude stuff?

🙂 Sounds great! Is it open to supportive straights?

Make sure you post photos.

GaycrashCBR said :

devils_advocate said :

Speaking as someone who for the most part is oblivious to and doesn’t care about what other members of the bar/club scene do after hours, I think it’s a bit disappointing that people are still defining bars and clubs but the sexual orientation of the patrons.

Saying that a club is a “straight bar” immediately suggests that somehow, people of other orientations aren’t welcome there. Now, this may well be the case, (I’ve never seen any overt discrimination) but regardless of whether it’s true, using this language perpetuates and normalises the distinction.

The only time I’ve ever been aware of the distinction is going to a nominally “gay” bar, and only because the bouncer made a point of telling my friends and I the fact – I guess we must have appeared both ignorant and intolerant and he thought we might take offence to what was going on inside, which shockingly was people drinking and dancing and generally having a good time. In any case, straight people are more than welcomed there, by both patrons and staff. I presumed it came to be known as a gay bar purely so that a smaller demographic could meet/pick up more efficiently. These days my reasons for staying away are to do with not wanting to be stabbed in the head.

Anyway, in summary I think that labelling bars/clubs as gay or straight is divisive and not really relevant in modern society.

I wish everyone were as informed and considered as you. I wish the reality you described in your own experience did indeed exist. However, your argument fails the reality test. In reality, GLBTIQ people are still discriminated against, and actively persecuted. There are soooooo many spaces that we cannot feel safe in. Hence gay bars exist. Not just to more efficiently meet/pick up, as you somewhat offensively theorised.

And FYI: the reason why the bouncer assumed you were ignorant and intolerant is because, unfortuately, lots of people still are. Do you think he/she was just making conversation? I admire your optimistic viewpoint and am disappointed the reality is not like this. Amoungst my gay and lesbian friends, I am one of the FEW that has not experienced violence as a result of my sexuality. I have been lucky. However, there are still people who won’t look at me, make jokes about me, and express their opinions of me that involve my harm.

So until everyone is as open minded as you, there will be gay bars, where our safety is assured. And now, on the third week of every month, the gays will make their own bar. And hopefully, we can help a few people become as considered and tolerant as you.

Are queers actually denied access to some venues?

I think it’s a great idea, and in regards to us having a specific club just to hook up. For me it’s more about not getting yelled at everytime my partner and I actually act like a couple.

GaycrashCBR said :

Hence gay bars exist. Not just to more efficiently meet/pick up, as you somewhat offensively theorised.

Why is this theory offensive? I thought it was one of the more logical aspects of modern society. I mean, if you have a demographic that only makes up a relatively small percentage of society, and they are not neccessarily visually identifiable (wait – see below) then it makes sense for some kind of coordination to take place to make things easier. ALthough maybe the internet has fixed this, I dunno. Of course, if not looking to pick up, then one bar is as good as the next, because for socialising it shouldn’t matter what orientation someone is, their conversation is going to be equally good or bad.

On the broader discrimination question, I guess I’ll have to defer to your experience on that.

Finally, I have a further query about how the even is going to work, especially for people who “may never have encountered real life queers before”. (BTW, queers? Really?). As a brown person, I know that people can see I’m in a racial minority easily (as if it mattered). How will people at token “straight” bar know what is going on beyond the fact that their local seems unusually busy?

devils_advocate said :

Speaking as someone who for the most part is oblivious to and doesn’t care about what other members of the bar/club scene do after hours, I think it’s a bit disappointing that people are still defining bars and clubs but the sexual orientation of the patrons.

Saying that a club is a “straight bar” immediately suggests that somehow, people of other orientations aren’t welcome there. Now, this may well be the case, (I’ve never seen any overt discrimination) but regardless of whether it’s true, using this language perpetuates and normalises the distinction.

The only time I’ve ever been aware of the distinction is going to a nominally “gay” bar, and only because the bouncer made a point of telling my friends and I the fact – I guess we must have appeared both ignorant and intolerant and he thought we might take offence to what was going on inside, which shockingly was people drinking and dancing and generally having a good time. In any case, straight people are more than welcomed there, by both patrons and staff. I presumed it came to be known as a gay bar purely so that a smaller demographic could meet/pick up more efficiently. These days my reasons for staying away are to do with not wanting to be stabbed in the head.

Anyway, in summary I think that labelling bars/clubs as gay or straight is divisive and not really relevant in modern society.

I wish everyone were as informed and considered as you. I wish the reality you described in your own experience did indeed exist. However, your argument fails the reality test. In reality, GLBTIQ people are still discriminated against, and actively persecuted. There are soooooo many spaces that we cannot feel safe in. Hence gay bars exist. Not just to more efficiently meet/pick up, as you somewhat offensively theorised.

And FYI: the reason why the bouncer assumed you were ignorant and intolerant is because, unfortuately, lots of people still are. Do you think he/she was just making conversation? I admire your optimistic viewpoint and am disappointed the reality is not like this. Amoungst my gay and lesbian friends, I am one of the FEW that has not experienced violence as a result of my sexuality. I have been lucky. However, there are still people who won’t look at me, make jokes about me, and express their opinions of me that involve my harm.

So until everyone is as open minded as you, there will be gay bars, where our safety is assured. And now, on the third week of every month, the gays will make their own bar. And hopefully, we can help a few people become as considered and tolerant as you.

How about the Southern Cross Club? That should result in 50 Hail Marys at least.

qbngeek said :

Thoroughly Smashed said :

Surely any place with “tavern” in the name?

or Inn…or Rugby Club for that matter.

I dunno, rugby’s pretty homoerotic, or is that more gay chicken?

Interesting idea, I imagine it could be a lot of fun.

Not sure understand the French revolution bit though. Will you be executing the former patrons? Will there be cake?

Sounds pretty gay.

Thoroughly Smashed said :

Surely any place with “tavern” in the name?

or Inn…or Rugby Club for that matter.

Speaking as someone who for the most part is oblivious to and doesn’t care about what other members of the bar/club scene do after hours, I think it’s a bit disappointing that people are still defining bars and clubs but the sexual orientation of the patrons.

Saying that a club is a “straight bar” immediately suggests that somehow, people of other orientations aren’t welcome there. Now, this may well be the case, (I’ve never seen any overt discrimination) but regardless of whether it’s true, using this language perpetuates and normalises the distinction.

The only time I’ve ever been aware of the distinction is going to a nominally “gay” bar, and only because the bouncer made a point of telling my friends and I the fact – I guess we must have appeared both ignorant and intolerant and he thought we might take offence to what was going on inside, which shockingly was people drinking and dancing and generally having a good time. In any case, straight people are more than welcomed there, by both patrons and staff. I presumed it came to be known as a gay bar purely so that a smaller demographic could meet/pick up more efficiently. These days my reasons for staying away are to do with not wanting to be stabbed in the head.

Anyway, in summary I think that labelling bars/clubs as gay or straight is divisive and not really relevant in modern society.

Surely any place with “tavern” in the name?

You should at least warn the health authorities you’re going to do it.

stormboy said :

Try the Kambah Inn, or maybe Chisolm Tavern. Then there is that trendy little joint in Fraser. Go on, you know it makes sense.

argh, I was going to suggest Chisholm Tavern! Famous for its Scum.

I hope this stunt works though, it’s a great idea. Um, I hope you have lots of big strong gays in the group, just in case it doesn’t work.

OverLord said :

Haha, sounds fabulous. You have to be going to Mooseheads, comeon.

Cube all too frequently gets invaded by those ejected (rejected?) from the Mooseheads, so ya’ll KNOW that will happen! When they least expect it. It may not be this month. It may not be next. But it WILL happen MUAHAHAHA

Look out for our second event in the third week of Feb. It will still be fabulous, it will still be fun, but we will be making a very cool statement 😉

You should have tried this on Summernats weekend.

DUB said :

…
On a more serious note- you will be pushing it, there isn’t a venue in canberra that can hold third of its population.

lololol.

But srsly, this sounds hilarious, and I’m all for it. 😀

Haha, sounds fabulous. You have to be going to Mooseheads, comeon.

Oh dear… At least post the dates, so people know that there is no point taking the kids to ER at THC , as it will be full of gaycrashers. 🙂
On a more serious note- you will be pushing it, there isn’t a venue in canberra that can hold third of its population.

“We want to build a good reputation, and some of these folks may never have encountered real life queers before. Remember, prejudice doesn’t survive experience, and you never know, you might get lucky!”

Try the Kambah Inn, or maybe Chisolm Tavern. Then there is that trendy little joint in Fraser. Go on, you know it makes sense.