A man who hurled homophobic abuse at a staff member inside Oxford Street queer bar Universal Sydney has been sentenced after pleading guilty to intimidation, according to reporting by The Daily Telegraph.
The newspaper reported on Tuesday that 23-year-old south-west Sydney man Lachlan McAlpine appeared at Downing Centre Local Court last Thursday, where he was handed a 12-month conditional release order without conviction.
Court documents cited by The Daily Telegraph said McAlpine, of Picnic Point, attended Universal with his family on November 8 last year but was asked to leave the venue twice because of his level of intoxication.
During the incident, McAlpine threatened a staff member, telling them: "Get the f–k out of my face or I’m going to smoke you," the newspaper reported.
According to The Daily Telegraph, when the staff member warned that police were outside, McAlpine responded: "Yup bring them in here. You're talking shit."
As police escorted McAlpine from the venue, with his family present, he directed further abuse at another employee.
"Are you a boy or a girl? You f–king f–got. I hate you gay c–ts," he said, according to The Daily Telegraph's report.
The staff member later told police the comments were demeaning and offensive, and particularly distressing given they occurred inside a venue intended to be a safe space for the LGBTQI+ community.
In court on Thursday last week, McAlpine represented himself and read an apology letter to Chief Magistrate Michael Allen, telling the court he had "zero issues" with the queer community, The Daily Telegraph reported.
"I'm really sorry for what happened, I’m very ashamed of myself and my actions were unlike me," he said. "I regret my behaviour. I’m embarrassed and the lack of respect was appalling."
McAlpine told the court he had completed TAFE, worked as a tradie and was preparing to open a business with his partner. He said he was willing to undertake alcohol and anger management courses.
Chief Magistrate Michael Allen said describing McAlpine as "pretty drunk" was an understatement and noted he had other violent matters on his criminal record.
"Why couldn't you switch it off?" the magistrate asked, referring to his drinking.
"I didn't feel like my alcohol consumption was a massive problem," McAlpine replied.
The Daily Telegraph reported that Magistrate Allen described the offending as an example of "the ugly Australia" and said McAlpine needed to step outside his "privileged middle-class world person role".
A separate charge of using offensive language in a public place was dismissed by the court.
Ben Grubb is the founder and editor of Gay Sydney News, an independent publication covering LGBTQIA+ news. A journalist with more than 15 years' experience, he has reported and edited for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, WAToday, Brisbane Times, The Australian Financial Review, News.com.au, ZDNet, TelecomTimes and iTnews, primarily on the topic of technology. He previously hosted The Informer, a queer current affairs program on Melbourne’s JOY 94.9 radio station, and contributes to LGBTQIA+ media including Stun Magazine. Ben has also appeared as a technology commentator on Channel Ten's The Project, ABC RN’s Download This Show and commercial radio stations 2UE, 2GB and 6PR. Contact Ben: [email protected]
