Strip club Calendar Girls is refuting claims of discrimination at its venue on Auckland’s K’ Rd, saying it never bars anyone because of their sexuality. There are complaints swirling among Auckland’s lesbian community that women who love women are not being allowed in, despite the fact that “lesbians love strippers as much as straight dudes,” as one woman puts it. A post on the Calendar Girls’ Auckland Facebook page has also ruffled feathers, where the club’s admin person responds to a claim that people may pretend to be gay to get in free as part of a couple’s deal for Valentine’s Day with “they won’t be up to dress code”: The post has prompt outcry from some that the club is discriminating against gay people who may wish to come into the venue. Calendar Girls Director Jacqui Le Prou is shocked at the claims, saying the club hasn’t barred lesbians, or gay men for that matter. “We have a very big following in Auckland and Christchurch of lesbians...on a weekly basis they attend and are no problem, the girls have a great time with them,” she says. When it comes to the Facebook post, she believes people are reading it wrong. “It is a known fact that gay men dress better than hetero men,” she says, adding the post is a joke. “I have a huge gay and lesbian friend base, my hairdresser is gay, two of my girls are very staunch lesbians, my best friend is lesbian...or bi...whatever suits her that day. And I'm friends with Miss Ribena,” Le Prou continues. “I think something started with a girl being kicked out of the club for intoxication and trying to hit a guy outside of the club and my doormen having to move her on. She’s lesbian, and now we seem to be non-gay and lesbian friendly.” Le Prou says people are going to take things however they want. “We are not discriminating against lesbian or gays. That is the funniest shit I've heard. And for those that really know us they would laugh too.” Calendar Girls took over the former venue of gay pub the Naval
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 16th February 2012 - 12:34pm