Sydney’s soon-to-launch gay bar Pink Pony has changed its Instagram handle to “new.name.coming” following online backlash that accused the venue of culturally appropriating a song by a lesbian artist about inclusivity while at the same time marketing itself primarily towards gay men.
In a statement, CEO Michael Lewis confirmed the name would be changing.
“We acknowledge and respect the very passionate feedback provided and it is clear that it’s best we move forward with a different name,” Lewis said.
The venue, recently acquired by the owner of Palms, Kevin Du-Val, is set to open in December at 231 Oxford Street, where popular gay party Flash was located before moving to Kings Cross Hotel.
Lewis previously told Gay Sydney News that the Pink Pony name was inspired by Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony” song, which the lesbian singer has described as being related to her time at The Abbey, a gay bar in West Hollywood.
Many people – women and lesbians more broadly – objected to the name in comments of a recent Gay Sydney News article that revealed the venue’s intentions, saying it was tone deaf and that Roan’s song was about inclusivity – and that Palms’ comments about it being targeted towards gay men did not align with the name.
“Of course the girls will be welcome, but it would certainly be our desire that it is predominantly gay boys, and when I say predominantly, I’m sort of talking 90 per cent plus,” Lewis previously told Gay Sydney News.
Editor’s note: Palms is an occasional sponsor of the irregular Gay Sydney News “what’s on” guides. This article is not sponsored.
This article was written by Ben Grubb (@bengrubb).
Editor’s note: Palms is an occasional sponsor of the irregular Gay Sydney News “what’s on” guides. This article is not sponsored.
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: ben.grubb@gaysydneynews.com.au
