Pub promotes racist, sexist performer

By Zanny Begg

BRISBANE -- On November 6, the show at the Wickham Hotel, promoted as Brisbane's “premier gay dance venue”, was disrupted by a protest against sexism and racism.

Holding placards which read “sexism does not equal entertainment” and “racism is unacceptable”, a small group of protesters stormed the stage as Lydia Box, the regular drag queen, began her show.

The protesters were attacked by bouncers and the DJ. Resistance organiser Jody Betzien was punched in the face, and several other protesters were put in headlocks or dragged out of the pub.

Protest organiser Kate Carr said Box abused and degraded women, calling them “skinny little scrags” who should have “their skirts ripped off” and be “fucked up against a wall”. Box called women from islander backgrounds “black bitches” and “fat”.

Griffith University activist Genelle Sellers told Green Left Weekly: “The Wickham Hotel is supposed to promote diversity within the community, yet it is supporting someone with narrow-minded and bigoted views”. Resistance activist Ruth Ratcliffe added, “It is disappointing to see a pub which profits from gays and lesbians promoting sexism, racism and misogyny”.

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