Hotel apologises over offensive Anzac Day event
Image: The Bank Hotel Newtown.
A SYDNEY hotel has issued an apology after it was criticised for holding an Anzac Day event called ‘Tranny Two Up’ metres from where a trans woman was violently assaulted in 2015.
Assault survivor Stephanie McCarthy spoke out about the event, which was held at Bank Hotel Newtown (BHN), as she felt it was ‘in incredibly bad taste’.
BHN licensee Jake Toivonen apologised for causing offence with the event’s branding and promised the venue would not make the same mistake in 2017.
“We have had Tora Hymen host our two up for a number of years, and were unaware this year that we were causing offence by using ongoing branding,” Mr Toivonen said.
“Newtown is a very culturally diverse area, which also brings an element of sensitivity to social issues, and we did not pick up on the current environment.”
Ms McCarthy said she was grateful to the BHN for listening to the community.
“Everybody makes mistakes and they rectified theirs straight away, I have no problem with them at all,” she told the Star Observer.
However, Ms McCarthy said she was “f*cking disgusted” after the “vile, sickening abuse” she received from gay men in the 36 hours since the story was published. The abuse included several death threats.
“I’ve fought for the gay community forever, I’m not new to this – I was going to Oxford St when I was 15 and to cop this pure, unadulterated filth from the gay community – a community I fought tooth and nail for for decades,” she said.
“F*ck you, I’m furious.”
Ms McCarthy was the target of a vicious attack in Newtown in 2015, which saw her lose some hearing in her left ear and damaged eye sight. The assault attracted national media attention.
People are people.. We should call them “people” or by their actual names.
Why the need for a gender classification or label these days is beyond me. They just get used as weapons towards innocent people to degrade them these days..
:(
Just wanna let you know Stephanie that I support your request for the word ‘Tranny’ not to be used. It is clear enough that many, many Trans people have had a terrible history with this word being used against them, used in a derogatory way, and a dismissive way, and it won’t hurt others to slow down and listen to this request. That so many trans people have continually felt harassed, abused and disrespected when this word is used, is something i wish all people would stop and listen to. People who don’t seem to understand, please just consider, it’s not terribly hard for you not to use this word. And how about just stopping and really considering this is a heartfelt reguest by numerous trans people, it is NOT some unreasonable PC request with twisted logic, it makes sense and doesn’t even take the less thoughtful of us to grasp. Is there something you genuinely don’t like being called? Wouldn’t you like other humans to listen to you if you asked for people to stop calling you that name, whatever it may be? Wouldn’t you wanna live in a world where people accept how you feel, and then out of respect, because it doesn’t impinge their life or freedoms, they make sure they consider you in their language usage? This is not about someone being overly sensitive, it is about all of us being respectful. ….. An aside Stephanie, I wish you all the very best after your traumatic experiences with the assaults that were inflicted upon you, and what must be a gruelling battle for justice and simple basic respect.
Most other trans people I’ve talked to agree with Stephanie. The word in question is offensive and I can’t believe members of lgbti community think it’s ok to use it for financial gain. That’s disgusting. To all the anti-trans boys in this thread: You are truly weak as piss and I wouldn’t do shit if you wete being bashed besides laugh.
Stephanie is not only speaking for herself. She’s speaking for every Trans person who has been hassled and beaten in Newtown of which i assure you there have been many more than have been reported. It’s time to actually give the Trans Community some damned respect around the issue. We are sick and tired of being referred to as Trannies, it is a slur. I have empathy for those who are transgender or transvestites who had to survive the past but let me make something abundantly clear, especially to our brothers and sisters in the gay community: Transgender people are not Trannies. I applaud the Bank Hotel for having the guts to take responsibility in this matter.
Just make one big apology for everything that might be said in the future, because the LGB will be on it’s knees saying sorry every 5 minutes. Breathing is transphobic, so just stop now.
So which party of LGB do you speak for Stan? Sure as hell isn’t L. Most likely isn’t B. Apologise for yourself and your own transphobia Stan. Only you can take the first step in effecting the real change needed.