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1 Nov 2006

sydney store closes toilets due to ''rampant homosexual activity''

The major Australian broadsheet, which broke the news, is being criticised for using homophobic language such as "rampant homosexual activity," "horrified users," portraying gay men as predatory and linking gay men with paedophiles. Fridae speaks to two Sydneysiders about the issue.

The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH), a major Australian broadsheet newspaper, has reported on Monday that Myer, a popular department store chain, has closed its level one toilet in its downtown Sydney store to the public "due to rampant homosexual activity."

Titled "Gay sex forces closure of store toilets," the news report said the move to make the toilet a staff-only facility has "exposed a massive list of venues being used by members of a gay web site cruising for sex."

The article, which was one of the day's most read on the SMH web site, also listed other meeting spots such as the library at the University of NSW, Marrickville Metro, the Royal Australian Air Force's Richmond base, Bankstown Airport's rest area and Sydney Opera House's toilets.

According to the report, the store's management were "forced to close to the public the level one toilet at Myer's Sydney city store in Pitt Street because 'homosexuals were using the facility as a meeting point, often having sex in full view of other horrified users.'"

The report quoted a Myer staff member who said she had seen "men running out of the toilet alerting employees about homosexual activity, while others had complained about being propositioned."

She continued: "I wouldn't let my friend's young son go in there, no way. I was really worried about his safety," she said. "There were men going in and out all the time. I'd see men sitting on the chair near the toilet just waiting. It's been happening for years."

A security guard quoted said, "The whole city has got that problem," when he was asked if the safety issues he cited were due to men using the toilet as a hook-up point.

The report also quoted Michelle Boston, the CEO of Crows Nest Community Centre which was listed on the web site as a pick-up point. She said: "This is awful. We have so many vulnerable people that come here."

Although she was unaware of any incidents in the listed ground floor toilets, she was reportedly "appalled when told by smh.com.au."

Within 30 minutes of being informed, Boston phoned the paper back and said: "I have taken immediate action. All toilets are now locked. People will have to report to reception to get a key. All children who use the facility will have to be accompanied by a parent. We care about our community and do not want them put at risk."

While most of the debate generated focused on whether sex in places like shopping mall toilets "should be something decent GLBT people condone" and why "can't gay men show some responsibility and not have public sex where non-gay people are going to be," few however commented on the inflammatory language used in the newspaper report which links gay men with paedophiles by quoting comments which linked gay men with children and "vulnerable people."

One message read: "This is repulsive. We all know it happens and that we're not going to change anything, but to save some sort of credibility in our community, we need to be vocal by saying that sex in public places like shopping malls is not something decent GLBT people condone.

"My own view is that such activities are 'more likely' to be undertaken by closeted married "heterosexual" men, but that's not the point as the finger will only be pointed at us."

A Sydneysider Fridae contacted, Wayne (who prefers not to reveal his last name due to work reasons), said that as a regular shopper at both Myer's Sydney City store and at Marrickville Metro, he has never "witnessed, much less taken part in any activity other than those for which the rest-room facilities are designed." He added that he is equally unaware of Bankstown Airport rest area being a cruising venue despite having worked at the Bankstown Airport for over 10 years and living in the airport for three years.

"I would not hesitate to suggest that if any such activities (which I do not condone) occur as the web site seemingly suggests; they are more likely to be discreet, covert and infrequent, than 'rampant.'"

Wayne added: "The author's language suggests a definite bias against the homosexual and/or bisexual communities, clearly aiming to sensationalise the matter and alarm the public through unbalanced reporting."

He dismissed the statement made by the Myer staff member who said that she would not let her friend's young son go in there as being sensationalistic. "Anyone who would allow young child, regardless of gender, to enter any public toilet facility unaccompanied is a person without reasonable regard for the child's welfare in the first place."

"As a member of the Sydney gay community, and the leader of a prominent Sydney gay community organisation, I am completely unaware that such practices would or could be construed as to constitute 'rampant' in any sense of the word, and I find the SMH author's slant on the matter derogatory, unnecessarily inflammatory and decidedly discriminatory."

When contacted by Fridae, Sydney based gay author Andy Quan, who also works as an International Policy Officer with the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations, said he thinks debates about public versus private sex among gay men is valid but would prefer to "see it within our community rather than plastered in a sensationalistic way on the front pages of the daily newspapers."

"There's no way any debate on this could take place in the mainstream, and the way the story was written portrays gay men as predatory, and promiscuous."

Australia

Reader's Comments

1. 2006-11-01 19:48  
although i am gay and part of a GLBTQ community as well, it is indeed shameful that such illicit activities are taking place in public places shamelessly. i am strongly against such lowly activities. a simple advice to all: if you want sex, do it discreetly and respectably. i dun think that straight people will just enter the opposite sex's toilets and do it publicly like us, do they? get a life, man!
2. 2006-11-01 20:13  
i think it is common in other countries~~ but people's reactions undoubtedly show their prejudices against gay.....
3. 2006-11-01 20:24  
If indeed this was happening then those involved should be dealt with through the legal system. But to label the entire gay community predatory, promiscuous and paedophilic is grossly irresponsbile writing. It is callous press such as this that gives rise to prejudices against the gay community that pervade our society. Take the number of women who get raped every day around the world and using the same logic of projecting the actions of a few over the entire population, shouldn't we be branding all straight men as predatory, abusive and violent? I mean c'mon.

I think the paper that wrote that should be hauled into court and sued for everything they've got.
4. 2006-11-01 21:43  
Homophobia propegated by a conservative press will continue to rear it's ugly head everywhere....should we be surprised, horrified, afraid, angry...I personally think NOT....I find it somewhat AMUSING that so-called professionals at the rag that broke this "story" can apparently get away with such irresponsibile "journalism", and at the same time, this is quite predictable, therefore BORING, and not "news" at all, but yet (yawn) another gross and unfair generalisation designed to prolong fear, prejudice and hate against the gay community. It must have been a slow news day in Sydney. On the basis of that "logic" I think all airline bathrooms should be locked as well, because I've witnessed rampant heterosexual behaivor in the toilets....voila, the 10,000 foot club ring a bell?? Oh hell, why not close ALL public toilets on the ground, around the world as well.....that'll stop us "predatory, dangerous" homos!!!

5. 2006-11-01 21:48  
Well, I fell that stating the obvious, and then twisting the facts are not the way to do things...
Comment #6 was deleted by its author
Comment #7 was deleted by its author
8. 2006-11-01 22:09  
How romantic...making love amid the shit, piss, farts, and strawberry or coconut deodorizer. YUK!!!!

By "stating the obvious" to me means what right has anyone to have sex in a public ANYTHING.

"Twisting the facts" are not the way to do things...but it sells newsprint. If this turns out to be true, we should be as morally outraged at our fellow homophiles as we are at the paper. We should also be careful politically. We can lose rights if the public does not know how the majority of us feel. To admonish a homosexual person becasue he murders someone, or robs a store, is NOT homophobia. Nor is it the case with public sex. Our community, all of it, and I mean all secxual orientations, should not have to expect an orgy while using the loo.

If false, a class action lawsuit should be filed against the paper, and any money collected should be given to the poor.
9. 2006-11-01 22:14  
It seems that sensasionalist journalist used a fact or too to built a story to scare people from sydney and raise another wave of fear against minorities. That" s one of the favourite nowadays recipe. Elections soon in Sydney?
dr. Ross
10. 2006-11-01 22:15  
OH COMON..WHY DONT U GUYS JUST GET A BED......
11. 2006-11-01 22:58  
indeed, i do have to agree with the fact that the comments stated in the SMH article were too absolute. it painted only a single piece of the jigsaw puzzle, which is totallly biased. i guess, this matters dun only entirely in gay men, but also, i think the society has to play a role. if the society do take gay men in consideration, as part of the NORM, perhaps, we will learn how to treasure ourselves, and behave ourselves because every action of ours, are being scrutinized by the surrounding people. it's a vicious cycle.
12. 2006-11-01 23:07  
Not predatory but definitely promiscuous.

Sensationalist? Yes but don't be surprised.

Can't complain about being stereotyped when you act according to the stereotype.

That's my take on it...
13. 2006-11-02 03:12  
Why gay overthere never think about the gay image around the world? grrrr.. day by days gay image was never be good in public point of view...hope we can be more make the world really appreciate for gay image in this world..amin..bravoo..
14. 2006-11-02 04:11  
We tend to think the society isn't treating us fairly, which I agree, and we therefore think for whatever issue arose the responsibility should partly be shared by the community. This is somehow true but look at the mostly negative images we have shown to the so called NORM people (including public sex in an inappropriate place). When we point a finger at others, we are pointing 3 other fingers at ourselves.
15. 2006-11-02 07:06  
Forget about defending the GLBT. Do you think having sex in public places where people using the facility is ok?

We have saunas, clubs, fridae and other websites for meeting other guys. are they not enough?
16. 2006-11-02 08:29  
It's not really a gay issue at all. If men and women shared public restrooms, I guarantee you there would be straight men hovering around trying to get some action. Straight men generally aren't in public restrooms cruising because there's nothing for them to cruise. If there was, they'd be doing it too. It's easy to act appauled at such activity when it doesn't personally turn you on. No one on here would ever admit they'd actually cruised someone in a restroom, but I'm pretty sure every gay guy I've known either thought about it, did it, or looked down at the guy in the next urinal. How many straight people have had sex in the office broom closet or in the hotel swimming pool. It's a people issue. Gay men love men, and it doesn't matter where they just happen to be. Just keep it away from children and other people who need to go in and take a piss in peace. Make sure it's consensual.
17. 2006-11-02 09:06  
'WHY DONT U GUYS JUST GET A BED'
'Why gay overthere never think about the gay image around the world? '......

do u guys think you are realli rude and unfair to gay at sydney? dont u know itz a social issue all around the world? are you too ignorant of knowing tat?
18. 2006-11-02 09:32  
there are more appropriate places for "that" activity
19. 2006-11-02 09:36  
i saw a man and two women having sex at bond beach....... why not close the beach? it's discusting to me!
20. 2006-11-02 09:49  
Agreed to a certain extent. Sydney is such a gay identity, that there really is no reason as to why gay men cant pick each other up in more appropriate places. Please think of potential users, there are children who use these! I'm not disgusted by homosexual sex at all, in fact, I enjoy it immensely, but even I would be offended to see men behaving like that in such a high profile location.
21. 2006-11-02 10:45  
hahaha Never know we gays are so powerful to make this type of closure.
Hopefully,we gays will be able to close down some establishments or any organisation that are not so gay friendly!!!
22. 2006-11-02 10:48  
The truth is that there's nearly always a number of known cruisy public toilets in every city regardless of whether the city has other gay venues. Is having sex in a public toilet inappropriate?
23. 2006-11-02 12:02  
It is this sort of public sexual activities which give us gay men a bad name. You don't hear of lesbian women or straight couples making out in public toilets...why is it always us who are so impatient to get our rocks off in places that can offend others and intrude on the public?
I wish people can be more discerning to enjoy sex in private rather than do this sort of thing. Surely, there better ways to make contact and enjoy sex in more proper surroundings? sigh....
24. 2006-11-02 12:26  
Oh Puh-Lease!
They are such hypocrites!
The management knows that this has been happening for YEARS!
MYERS Toilets and be it ALL public toilets in the main streets are full of Cottage Queens!
Besides that it is almost an Aussie way of life! Hahahahahahahahaha!
25. 2006-11-02 14:36  
i'm confused..
r gay men promiscuous 'cuz they are predatory, or predatory, 'cuz they r promiscuous?!?!?!? :=P
26. 2006-11-02 19:05  
i wouldnt say it as a meeting point.. Its pretty okay to meet in a toilet but to have sex in full public view is something i cannot comprehend..

what about the cruisy toilets of citylink and taka? done behind locked doors.. good enough.. let it be..
27. 2006-11-02 19:33  
I am a media student studying in melbourne, and let me tell you something - the newspaper always "sensationalise" news (one of them - always putting homosexual at front page) and this is one obvious case. I believe it is true that a straight-married man are MORE prone to do such things in public. Sadly, we are the one to be blame at the end. The world is unfair anywayz!

As for the Myer lady, she should really use proper words when saying something. I am very sure, the newspaper might had alter her conversation as well but who knows right?

Cruisers out there - do it subtly! Don't get caught - that's the REAL thrill if you want to engage in public sex!
28. 2006-11-02 21:30  
guys, we should refrain ourselves from all these. sex is more that just a quickie. imagine heterosexuals start having sex out in the public.... behave pls...
29. 2006-11-02 23:05  
rubbbish; gay men have met in bathouses and toilets for centuries
30. 2006-11-02 23:09  
i agreed with a few post from the guys, that there are more appropriate places to do "certain" stuff, as well as thinking about who are the other people thats going to use the facilities as well.
And personally i feel that lesbians got a better reputation than gays for some reasons. (example whats mentioned by post #21)
i guess if other people haven seen it then they wont much say anything. but if they got prove to it then they can make it as bad as you couldnt imagined. then shouldnt we gay men prove them wrong. even if they still continue to utter about things but at least we can be honest to ourself that we didnt do it and our hands arent "covered with blood". and also that people around us know about us and that whats in the papers arent true.
maybe its very small but who knows one day the way those people look at us might change a little one day.
31. 2006-11-03 04:53  
Closing toilets just coz gays having sex is stupid. I think both parties are wrong. The store management and the straight citizens shouldnt hv been so paranoid. And the gay men should hv chosen more descent places to hv sex. I think it's our responsibility as gay men to maintain our good image in the homophobic society.

But I do understand the urge of lust when it hits us. I too have had oral sex in public toilet twice :) Coz I didnt hv any place to hv sex (I lived with parents). But I did it privately inside the stalls and made sure that noone knew. But I didnt do it anymore.
32. 2006-11-03 06:09  
I think it's perfectly understandable for straight people to get paranoid after all it's a public toilet in the departmental store not a gay sauna.

It'd be good if gay people started to be a little less adventurous. After all, it's sydney, it's the place where you can easily go grab gay sex in the places where it is provided.

When thing happened due to the course of our own actions, then we come cry foul seeking equal right? I think that's a bit ridicurous.
Comment #33 was deleted by its author
34. 2006-11-03 07:26  
Although the use of such strong verbiage is unwarranted, I do agree with post #30 that it is ridiculous to do wrong, then complain later that the retribution was too harsh. I can understand the public being as disturbed as I would be if I saw any couple fornicating in public, gay, straight, lesbian or otherwise.

I am more dismayed with those who were having sex in public than I am with the news report. Come on, those men who were getting it on in the bathroom, they knew what they were getting into, and they knew the consequences that their actions would have on the image of gays.

It is disgusting that although there are many of us who fight for gay rights and improve the image of gays, there are also plenty out there who do stupid shit like this, with complete disregard for how their actions will reflect on us. That the public may be troubled by the activities described in the news report is an understandable reaction, given the repulsive actions of a few inconsiderate folks.
35. 2006-11-03 08:15  
what a shame its closed I am flying over next month.... why are the so many posts taking the higher ground lots of gay men do it (although most descreetly) and if u dont its fun, and very addictive, try it!
36. 2006-11-03 09:02  
a modicum of discretion isn't a bad idea but i rather think this kind of thing is okay (cottaging is the English word for the practice)...a bit of furtive fun! it goes on in most major cities and is a tradition we should endorse.
37. 2006-11-03 09:34  
Hey whats the big deal? Rampant means standing with your forelegs elevated :)

but more seriously, this behaviour is pretty obscene too, to most normal gays..
38. 2006-11-03 09:53  
Anyway, I think this issue is nonsense! With so many gay places in Sydney and the beauty of internet world...why do some of "us" still need to do it in the toilet? Pick up...yes....sure why not...but doing in toilet....we can do better....

Imagine fucking half way and next door a loud smelly fart being release...I am sure that is really excited and fun! hahahahhaah!!!
Comment #39 was deleted by its author
40. 2006-11-03 10:00  
I will give an objective comment :
1. People in glass houses shouldnt throw stones
2. Such behaviour can be a form of fetishism
3. Such behaviour may originate out of desperation or convenience as place to engage in sex may be a problem for some
4. I have seen gays being handcuffed by police in public toilets
5. It is disgusting to some but thrilling to others.
6. Please spare a thought for minors and dont lure them.
7. Be responsible for your actions
8. As toilets are public places, it will be wise to abstain from such behaviours as these will be sensationalized by the media and anti-gays.
41. 2006-11-03 12:55  
I didn't know Myer's washrooms are also overflowing with these activities. I thought it is only the Pitt Street Mall Centrepoint Westfields toilets that are more rampant.

Earlier this year, I once glimpsed at one young white dude of 20 above-ish propositioning to an older dude who WENT into the stall and they got it on. Gheydar of mine never lies and I KNEW what was gonna happen.

Some months later when I went to use that toilet (it was the only one in the building; next to the Lincraft) and discovered two CCTV cameras positioned right infront of the door complete with the plaque stating 'Plain clothes security guards patrol these washrooms'. Obviously the management has caught on to the sheannigans happening in their washrooms; I don't suppose the queer males of the Myer staff have partaken in some 'quickies' as well.

Oh and to all readers, do not worry if you had an inkling that I would partake in such things. Stooping to public toilet sex is rather cheap in my standards; especially for a gay man myself. I prefer the privacy of my own home/room.
42. 2006-11-03 14:56  
why is it OK to see straight people fucking on the silver screen at the movies ???
43. 2006-11-03 15:52  
Oh for goodness sake. We have the internet and other gay places to pick up men. Come on guys, dont scare the Straight people too much otherwise they wont breed...
44. 2006-11-03 23:00  
Having publicist such ordeal on the mainstream paper, i reckon is ashame. Much to social confirmity, it is ridicule as an obsence gesture for gay man to perform such act. But what i like to know is does MYERS management have actually spend their working time tracking activity in the public toilets of their stores, as much of their time can be devoted to making profitable business.
One wonder maybe, do we track straight sexual activity and comment them on the paper..well go figure...as one can say straight sex in public can be unnatural as gay sex.
Comment #45 was deleted by its author
46. 2006-11-05 01:22  
beware - australia is becmong more homophobic -
47. 2006-11-05 02:22  
lets face it....public sex is here to stay.
The internet,for all its virtues lacks the final degree of spontaneity and frisson you can get from some random outdoor encounter.This will always appeal to some people...let's not forget,it's cheaper than a sauna or club.
for my own part,i've only engaged in such an activity twice.
Comment #48 was deleted by its author
49. 2006-11-05 10:57  
I's reading the part about Wayne giving his 'testimony'.....

It doesn't matter if he haven't seen anything. I've got plenty of friends who are oblivious about things that happen 1 km within their homes. That doesn't mean they don't exist.

No smoke without fire, matey!

My personal opinion is that it shouldn't be done in public, and if it still is, then one should be ready to face the consequences.
It might be a good idea to start sending hearts to that lawyer f-buddies of yours from time to time.... cos you miight need one to bail your ass out of being cornholed in prison.
50. 2006-11-05 21:46  
Oh shock horror! Why the feigned indignation at being caught out? Gay sex in beats (every public toilet whether in a shopping mall, cinema, park or wherever is a beat) happens, probably in every city in Australia, though I can only speak about Melbourne. I've seen a semi-naked man on all fours engaging in whatever in Northland bogs, in a ritzy Collins Street plaza I had a 100% naked guy in the cubicle next to me, he was on his back on the cold pissy tiles, his legs were up the cubicle wall, and he was offering me his shaved hole, I declined and left. Come on guys, do it at home or suffer the consequences. Parents who let a child enter a public toilet alone are irresponsible and should be fined and shamed.
51. 2006-11-06 00:35  
"Parents who let a child enter a public toilet alone are irresponsible and should be fined and shamed."

I absolutely disagree. I think toilets should be a safe place for all users including children. I don't see how a parent can be always around to keep an eye out for their kids all the time considering many young teens start going to malls on their own. And what about opposite sex parents? Predators and those who are a public nuisance should be jailed, fined and shamed - not parents.

Surely gay men can find a better place for their past time. *rolls eyes
52. 2006-11-06 12:47  
gosh.. just keep on doing what thrill you.
i've done it before.. pretty sure 99.999% of us have done it too.. public toilets... hahak... its the restraining urself emotionally while getting the pleasure that make the different.

but guys.. its says rampant.. out of hand.. out of control.. hahakkk... maybe some of you guys are tooooo loud.
53. 2006-11-06 15:59  
I AGREE WITH STAN...

Post #46 stan says (Posted : 06 November 2006 0:35) :

"Parents who let a child enter a public toilet alone are irresponsible and should be fined and shamed."

I absolutely disagree. I think toilets should be a safe place for all users including children. I don't see how a parent can be always around to keep an eye out for their kids all the time considering many young teens start going to malls on their own. And what about opposite sex parents? Predators and those who are a public nuisance should be jailed, fined and shamed - not parents.

Surely gay men can find a better place for their past time. *rolls eyes
54. 2006-11-08 15:14  
I personally do not see how this is homophobic. Sex in a public place such as public restroom is absolutely inappropriate, plain and simple!
55. 2006-11-08 16:43  
I can't help thinking about our dear Georgie boy Michael, who got caught fooling around in the brush (literally) by a reporter and Georgie scolded at him, shouting, "This is my culture!" Well, there goes one of our spokesmen.

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