Top: The Greencoat Boy pub Below: Labour LGBT group
Around 50 members of the British Labour Party's LGBT group showed up at the Greencoat Boy pub in central London following the group's annual general meeting.
According to reports it was a quiet Saturday afternoon in the pub. The campaigns officer for the group, James Murray, said members carried an "innocuous" banner bearing the slogan: "Only Labour can deliver equality." Murray said there was no problem except for one customer who appeared to take exception to the group's presence. He added "that seemed to start something going."
Members were reportedly refused drinks and a manager told them he wouldn't have accepted the booking if he had known the group was gay. The group got word out on Twitter: "Manager at The Greencoat Boy near Westminster told members he would have refused the #LGBT Labour booking if he'd known it was an LGBT group!"
The story attracted attention and prominent Labour Party figures weighed in. Sarah Brown posted: "Very sad to hear that the Greencoat Boy shown as homophobic in taking LGBT booking – but good to see so many are concerned here."
Former deputy PM John Prescott also offered support: "40 years ago we campaigned against a Hull pub that banned 'women & queers' This is disgraceful. Fully back you #greencoatboy."
As of last check over a thousand people had signed up for a Facebook campaign to protest the incident and to call for a boycott.
A Metropolitan police spokeswoman said: "We can confirm an allegation that a homophobic incident took place at a premises in the SW1 area and was reported to police on Saturday 5 June... Enquiries by officers continue."
The Greencoat Boy is owned by Punch Taverns which has "apologized unreservedly" for the incident. A spokesman said the company had contacted all pubs in the chain to remind them of equality standards.
He said: "We would like to stress that this is an isolated incident, we have a good track record on equal opportunities and we do not tolerate homophobia in our pubs, whether from guests to other guests, or involving our employees... We are currently conducting a full investigation of the incident and the deputy general manager will not be on site until the investigation is concluded."
The incident is reminiscent of discriminatory practices directed toward homosexuals in the not-so-distant past. As a society we like to believe we have moved beyond that type of anti-gay bigotry but homophobic attitudes remain entrenched in certain quarters and it doesn't take a lot to bring it out.
Not long ago a gay couple, Michael Black and John Morgan, were turned away from a B & B in Cookham, Berkshire, because the proprietor had objections to them sharing the same bed.
More on the story - Guardian - BBC - Independent
According to reports it was a quiet Saturday afternoon in the pub. The campaigns officer for the group, James Murray, said members carried an "innocuous" banner bearing the slogan: "Only Labour can deliver equality." Murray said there was no problem except for one customer who appeared to take exception to the group's presence. He added "that seemed to start something going."
Members were reportedly refused drinks and a manager told them he wouldn't have accepted the booking if he had known the group was gay. The group got word out on Twitter: "Manager at The Greencoat Boy near Westminster told members he would have refused the #LGBT Labour booking if he'd known it was an LGBT group!"
The story attracted attention and prominent Labour Party figures weighed in. Sarah Brown posted: "Very sad to hear that the Greencoat Boy shown as homophobic in taking LGBT booking – but good to see so many are concerned here."
Former deputy PM John Prescott also offered support: "40 years ago we campaigned against a Hull pub that banned 'women & queers' This is disgraceful. Fully back you #greencoatboy."
As of last check over a thousand people had signed up for a Facebook campaign to protest the incident and to call for a boycott.
A Metropolitan police spokeswoman said: "We can confirm an allegation that a homophobic incident took place at a premises in the SW1 area and was reported to police on Saturday 5 June... Enquiries by officers continue."
The Greencoat Boy is owned by Punch Taverns which has "apologized unreservedly" for the incident. A spokesman said the company had contacted all pubs in the chain to remind them of equality standards.
He said: "We would like to stress that this is an isolated incident, we have a good track record on equal opportunities and we do not tolerate homophobia in our pubs, whether from guests to other guests, or involving our employees... We are currently conducting a full investigation of the incident and the deputy general manager will not be on site until the investigation is concluded."
The incident is reminiscent of discriminatory practices directed toward homosexuals in the not-so-distant past. As a society we like to believe we have moved beyond that type of anti-gay bigotry but homophobic attitudes remain entrenched in certain quarters and it doesn't take a lot to bring it out.
Not long ago a gay couple, Michael Black and John Morgan, were turned away from a B & B in Cookham, Berkshire, because the proprietor had objections to them sharing the same bed.
More on the story - Guardian - BBC - Independent
