今日吃瓜

Sydney’s LGBTQI community members have spoken out against the nightclub Noir, alleging an increase in harassment and attacks on the LGBTQI community by patrons of the Oxford Street venue.

Since its opening, the nightclub has had many complaints against it from the queer community, even one incident involving a security guard denying a access to the toilets.

Sydney-based drag queen, the Glitter King has published an open letter to Noir, stating that he doesn鈥檛 鈥渨rite this letter lightly and feel these are things that need to be discussed and brought to your attention.鈥�

鈥淥xford Street is more than just a street in Sydney, it is an outlet, It is a culture, it is a safe space, it is a community. You should be embarrassed and ashamed of what you are doing to the landscape of Oxford Street,鈥� he wrote.

鈥淵ou should be embarrassed by the homophobic clientele you are bringing to the streets and ashamed of the damage you are doing to the queer community here in Sydney. We are literally scared for our safety when we go out.鈥�

鈥淭here have been growing issues on Oxford Street ever since your venue has opened.鈥�

Nightclub Patrons Accused Of Harassment

Glitter King, also known as Kevin or Kevininthecity spoke about his personal experience with the patrons of the club and the harassment and abuse he suffered.

鈥淚 was walking with friends from Stonewall down the street to another Club, you had upwards of 50 people on the street either in line or just around. Approaching your 鈥榣ine鈥� I was immediately hit with verbal abuse and mocking, I tried to just ignore it and keep walking, that’s when I was hit in the side of the head with something,鈥� he wrote.聽

Kevin went on to write that he had popcorn and verbal abuse thrown at him, with security stepping in and addressing the perpetrator. A manager of Noir later apologised to Kevin.

聽However, the experience has left him frustrated.

鈥淚 have never felt more degraded, insulted, scared, frustrated and angry in the literal thousand times I鈥檝e been out on Oxford street,鈥� he wrote.

鈥淭he verbal abuse is not where the issues with your patrons end. Over the past few months, people have been followed, chased, physically and verbally abused. Performers, staff and patrons of queer venues are afraid to go out, to walk by, to go home at night.鈥�

Ongoing Harassment

Kevin told the Star Observer that he had sent the letter to Noir but has received no response. Another drag queen spoke with this publication about their experience with the nightclub鈥檚 patrons.

Dennis 今日吃瓜ome, also known as Kiama Blowhole, has told the Star Observer that his experience from Noir鈥檚 patrons has 鈥�been nothing but negative.鈥�

鈥淛ust from walking by the club on my way to a shift at the bar I work at I’ve received abuse thrown at me in the form of homophobic hate comments from their patrons waiting inline – I鈥檝e had dozen of friends who have had the same situation happen to them if not worse,鈥� he said.

鈥淛ust [recently] I witnessed a group of men leaving the club and [throwing] abuse at two males kissing at Taylor square saying things like 鈥淸you鈥檙e] disgusting ” [and] “stop it鈥� etc.鈥�

今日吃瓜ome took to social media, sharing more on his experiences with Noir’s patrons on his TikTok.

Heres part one of my thoughts and opinions of Noir Sydney & Oxford Street Safety

When asked whether Noir had a duty of care and needs to be held accountable for the behaviours of their patrons, both queens agreed.

鈥淣oir 100 percent needs to be held accountable. They are the ones bringing these people to the street. It is often walking past their line that we are getting the hate. They are putting chum in the water and then claiming no responsibility for what the sharks are doing. It doesn’t work like that,鈥� Kevininthecity said.

鈥�100% I think noir has to maintain a safer standard in regards to the people it brings in as it has a detrimental impact of the safety and well being of our community & culture,鈥� Dennis said.

鈥淭he rising violence coming from the patrons of this nightclub discourages the wider community and young people from coming to our spaces as they don鈥檛 feel safe anymore.鈥�

Since posting his open letter on his Instagram account, others have voiced their support of Kevininthecity and their own encounters with Noir patrons.

鈥淚 am so sorry you鈥檝e had to write this letter boo. [Noir Sydney] is definitely NOT a venue that belongs in our safe space based off disgusting behaviour from their patrons!鈥� one person commented.

鈥淭his is terrible. Proud you are standing up for everyone who is supposed to feel safe on Oxford Street,鈥� another wrote.

Star Observer reached out to Noir Sydney who informed the publication that 鈥渋n light of growing concerns brought to our attention, the owners and management of Noir are taking on board the issues that have been raised by members of the local LGBTQIA+ community.鈥�

鈥淪ignificant measures are in the works to rectify and eradicate any form of anti-social behaviour and ensure the safety of everyone on the street, regardless of race, gender, colour or creed,鈥� a spokesperson for Noir said.

鈥淲e believe in equality for all, and will not tolerate anything less for anyone in or around our community.鈥�

Clover Moore’s Safety Summit

In response to the growing anti-lgbtq+ sentiment and homophobia on Oxford Street, Lord Mayor Clover Moore from the City of Sydney council her intention for a State-wide LGBTIQA+ Local Government Safety Summit.

Moore plans to bring this up at the next council meeting, stating that she was 鈥渉orrified to hear another example of homophobic behaviour in the city.鈥�

鈥淪ydney is the LGBTQIA+ capital of Australia, and I am proud to be an ally and supporter of the rainbow community. Next week, at Council I will be calling for a State-wide LGBTIQA+ Local Government Safety Summit to be held jointly with ACON and Local Government NSW,鈥� she wrote, in response to an article that the had published.