“End ban on East Asian men”, urges OutRage!
Protests get results – club says ban was a “misunderstanding”.
London – 9am – 12 September 2005
“We are very disturbed by reports that the south London gay club Rude Boyz is enforcing a blanket ban against all East Asian men,” said Peter Tatchell of the LGBT human rights group, OutRage!
“If true, this is racist discrimination and is totally unacceptable.
“The LGBT community has always fought for equality. That means equal rights for all lesbians and gay men, regardless of racial, ethnic or national background. There is no justification for any club to bar entry to all people of Far Eastern – or any other – heritage.
“The fact there was a fight involving some East Asian men at Rude Boyz three weeks ago is no excuse for excluding everyone of East Asian origin.
“OutRage! urges Rude Boyz to drop this discriminatory policy and to apologise the East Asian LGBT community.
“We are responding to calls for help from a group of East Asian men who were refused entry to Rude Boyz at Fire in South Lambeth Road, SW8, on 8 September 2005. We have received a worrying report from Jaray Singhakowinta. He was turned away last Thursday, allegedly on the sole grounds that he is of East Asian origin. The door staff told him they were not admitting any ‘Far Eastern or Oriental’ men.
“Whatever the events that provoked this door policy, it is racist and must be ended. We support the call by East Asian men for an immediate halt to this ban.
“How can we expect respect for LGBT people if sections of our community discriminate against others because of their race?
“Rude Boyz should ban the people who started the fight at its club, but it should not impose a collective punishment on innocent East Asian men who had nothing to do with the violence that night,” said Mr Tatchell.
Update – 4 hours later, following discussions with the Rude Boyz management.
East Asian ban a misunderstanding, says gay club
Rude Boyz says it opposes racism and welcomes East Asian club-goers
London – 1pm – 12 September 2005
“Following protests over the exclusion of East Asian men from the London gay club Rude Boyz, the management has advised us that these exclusions were a result of a misunderstanding and that there was never a race-based ban,” said Brett Lock of the LGBT human rights group OutRage!
“Rude Boyz have apologised for any offence caused to the East Asian gay community and assured us that they oppose racism and do not discriminate on the grounds of race.
“According to Rude Boyz, there was fight at the club caused by 12 East Asian men. For the safety and protection of other club-goers, the management ordered door staff to refuse entry to the 12 men involved. The club says its bouncers misunderstood this instruction and banned all men of East Asian heritage.
“Following protests by several East Asian men who were turned away, Rude Boyz has made it clear there was never any blanket ban and have now instructed its door staff accordingly. East Asian men will be welcomed at the club, as before, says the management.
“We are satisfied that Rude Boyz did not intend to discriminate against East Asian men, and we are delighted the club has reaffirmed its commitment to non-discrimination,” said Mr Lock.