David writes:
Just back home from a ruined night out (4 June 2011)!
I went into The Eagle (a popular gay bar in Newcastle upon Tyne’s gay quarter), only to be told my female personal assistant couldn’t come in cos its their once-a-month Men Only Night!
I’ve had ongoing problems with the company that owns the bar – their accessible toilet is frequently full of furniture blocking access which means I have to ask them to clear it – just so I can go to the toilet.
But to be chucked out cos I have a female PA is outrageous!! Is it legal to ban women from bars these days? Is it legal to ban women assisting disabled men in bars these days?
I’m stunned. Angry. Tired. Surely this can’t be right?
Hi, David, is it legal? probably not, but then I”m over on the other side, in the US. I’ve often wondered about the legality here of half-price drinks for women and the like. Certainly, it’s just sexist in the name of making a buck.
What I have found is that, while you’d think the gay/LGBTQ communities should and would be more sensitive, having been oppressed ourselves, no – it’s sadly not surprising to hear that a gay bar isn’t accessible. Things are better – sign language interpreters are pretty common over here at LGBTQ events or provided upon request (not always – I recently had a negative interaction with the planning committee for a transgender health conference that only wanted to provide interpreters for the keynote speakers and a few hand-selected workshops, at their discretion, not the Deaf person’s).
That said, I do wonder if the bar staff gave you a reason. knowing that it was on a men-only night, I should think it’d be pretty sexually charged. Did you know in advance and could you have easily gotten a male PA (no, not a Prince Albert! lol a personal assistant)? Not that just any male PA couldn’t be uncomfortable too, and maybe the female PA was comfortable – how do you balance that with the nature of the bar and the men there for men-only night? Hmmm
David,
Sadly I find the Newcastle gay scene to be pretty non disabled friendly. I am visually impaired and lost my sight last year. I no longer attend the bars as I know I would be faced with similar barriers. I wonder if there are any North East gay disabled groups?