Luxury Hotels In San Diego|"Security Staff At Prahran Hotel Sacked Over Homophobic Assault"

Source         :     heraldsun.com.au
Category     :    Luxury Hotels In San Diego
By               :    REBEKAH CAVANAGH
Posted By   :    Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard

Luxury Hotels In San Diego

The Prahran Hotel bouncers reportedly struck the man twice and made derogatory comments towards him after he tried to tell them he and his friends had been subjected to anti-gay abuse by other pub-goers. The victim said one security guard told him that it wasn't a gay bar and "faggots weren't welcome". He said he was "in shock" following the incident and left the venue soon after the incident, which happened about 7.15pm. He reported the matter immediately to Victoria Police's gay and lesbian liaison unit. The assault sparked outrage on social media, with many calling on people to boycott the hotel. The victim's friend, Joe Buscuttil was celebrating his birthday on the night, and described the treament they receieved as "rude and aggressive". "Please boycott the Prahran Hotel on High Street," he posted on Facebook. "We were behaved and friendly, we spent our money and caused no trouble. They were rude and aggressive. Stating over and over that their venue was not a place for gays." The pub's four owners swiftly reacted, announcing this morning they had launched an investigation and would not tolerate such behaviour.

After a crisis meeting and talks with the victim at lunch time, they decided the best action was to give the security staff the boot. Part-owner Andy Mullins said they were disappointed they had to investigate "vile accusations of homophobia and derogatory behaviour at our pub". He apologised to the patron and his friends that their night "was ruined". "We each, and all, roundly condemn any form of vilification in our venues, or in any part of society," Mr Mullins said in a public statement on the hotel's Facebook page. "The two guards involved last night have been sacked and will not ever be working in our venue again, nor in any of the other venues we own and operate. "Further, our security contractor will be providing additional training to all of their guards in seeking to ensure this type of behaviour is never repeated."

Mr Mullins added: "We've spent our business lives building community pubs where neither the colour of your skin, nor the compass of your political, social and religious beliefs, nor your gender, nor your sexual orientation have got anything to do with the face that all people are always welcome al the time in all our venues. "Prahran Hotel is a pub that exists in the heart of Prahran. It's not a straight pub. It's not a gay pub. It's not a pub for coprorates over students. Or athletes over artists. It's just a pub. "And it's open and welcoming to all. Last night the spirit was compromised. And we have honoured that spirit, we hope, by acting firmly and by acting quickly in its defence."

Source:heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/security-staff-at-prahran-hotel-sacked-over-homophobic-assault-on-patron/story-fni0fee2-1226709063641