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."
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."
Reader's Comments
I think the paper that wrote that should be hauled into court and sued for everything they've got.
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.
dr. Ross
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...
We have saunas, clubs, fridae and other websites for meeting other guys. are they not enough?
'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?
Hopefully,we gays will be able to close down some establishments or any organisation that are not so gay friendly!!!
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....
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!
r gay men promiscuous 'cuz they are predatory, or predatory, 'cuz they r promiscuous?!?!?!? :=P
what about the cruisy toilets of citylink and taka? done behind locked doors.. good enough.. let it be..
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
but more seriously, this behaviour is pretty obscene too, to most normal gays..
Imagine fucking half way and next door a loud smelly fart being release...I am sure that is really excited and fun! hahahahhaah!!!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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