WotNoTrousers
Registered: May 2004 Posts: 3 - Threads: 2 Location: London
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I've been clubbing now for over ten years. Straight clubs, gay clubs fetish clubs, you name 'em. Since I discovered that post-1988 clubbing meant freedom from beered up lads wanting to have a pop at you for looking a bit different, I've never looked back. Intolerance was a thing of the past. Or so I thought.
This afternoon I went to Tilt at Studio 33 in Vauxhall for the first - and unfortunately last - time.
On arriving I changed into suitable clubbing attire - a pic is attached - apologies for the quality, but it's the best I could get from a phone camera.
Within 15 minutes of being at the club I went to the loo with a friend. Whilst I waited outside for her joking with security, who found my look quite entertaining, a female member of staff came up to me, and rather apologetically asked if I minded putting some pants (sic) on. I looked at her first bemused, then somewhat outraged. She then told me that 'as a woman, she was offended by the way I was dressed.' I told her that I was offended by her attitude, and that no, I wouldn't put some 'pants' on. (I also wondered just how she coped when she went to the beach or swimming baths - her blood must be boiling with outrage!)
Meanwhile, in the toilets, my friend heard heard two girls talking, with a conversation that went along the lines of "I don't expect to go out on a Saturday afternoon to see a man in his underwear". She hung around a little longer to hear more. The general mood in the toilets with all the "girlies" was that of outrage and disgust. One girl said "we might expect this at Love Muscle at the Fridge". (For those that don't know, Love Muscle was a long running gay night in Brixton).
We went back to the dance floor, and about five minutes was asked to either put on some trousers or leave, by an embarrassed member of security (with whom I had previously been joking).
Obviously, there was a principle at stake here, so we said our goodbyes and made to leave.
Also at the club were Brett and Sylvie who we went to say goodbye to. Most of the clubbing community of London know Brett and Sylvie - hedonists extraordinaire. brett was wearing his usual - a pair of shorts, tight vest, rucksack, bum bag etc. When we told him we had been kicked out, he replied that he had also been evicted.
At the door the promoter (Nathan Koppen) came up to us and tried to explain that he personally had no problem with the way we were dressed, but that he had had complaints and had to address them. He said he had to weigh the views of the 'majority' against the minority, which is why he was asking us to leave.
I suggested to him that this was a matter of discrimination, and that he should teach the complainants the meaning of the term 'TOLERANCE'. I asked that if he had complaints about another group who were in the minority, such as black people, would he ask them to leave also? Unsurprisingly, he didn't have an answer. (Incidentally, he did say we were welcome to the club again, as long as boys wore trousers! Naturally I declined the offer.)
Quite simply, this was a clear case of homophobia. My look is overtly gay, certain girls couldn't handle it (as per the conversation in the toilets), and I, together with Brett had to go.
As said at the beginning, I have been clubbing for MANY years, and have never encountered such narrow minded attitudes - we thought that was the whole point of clubbing in the nineties and beyond, to be yourself, dress how you like and have a good time. Prejudices should not be allowed in clubs.
Two men were thrown out of Tilt today for wearing shorts - I think it will be a long time until a woman gets thrown out of Tilt for wearing the same.
We told a couple of people about to enter the club what had happened and they were quite flabbergasted, and somewhat deflated about the attitude that was prevalent there. As they said, if the girls didn't like it, then they should be told to f**k off for having such narrow attitudes.
We feel very strongly about this blatant act of intolerance - and the fact that the promoter was willing to enforce it, and therefore endorse it. This was made even more galling when we came back and read your interview with him:
"So whether it’s ... removing the beer-boy that thinks it’s ok to harass the girls around him, it’s about looking after your clubbers as best you can."
How about protecting minorities from bigoted individuals, who, while not beer-boys, ultimately have the same attitudes?
"I first fell into promotion when Charlie and a couple of good mates from Brighton-way started a pumping little trance party called Tolerance in Brixton"
Tolerance???? Either the club wasn't, or you've learnt nothing!
"The ultimate aim for me is to be able to stand at the door at the end of the night as people leave, and get the feeling from almost everyone that they had a great time at TILT."
And what of those people who were made to leave because of bigots?
"It is also important to know, and be known by your clubbers, and be available at the party at all times to get feedback, both good and bad. That way people feel that the promotion they are giving their money to actually cares about them, and is doing all it can to make sure they are being looked after."
Well, tonight Nathan, any principles you had went straight out of the window. It was cash over principles. You had a judgement call and you chose the wrong path. The man everyone has given their money to is interested in just that - the money. That's why he chose to kick us out rather than tell the bigots where to go.
I am not a malicious person, and only want to have a good time. Hopefully, after reading this, you can make an informed judgement of whether you choose to visit the club.
As a friend said to me shortly afterwards 'I didn't think that narrow attitudes like that still exist - it's 2004 for f**k's sake'
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