A gay party planned for this weekend has been cancelled after invited club-goers were offended by its name 'Concentration Camp'. The poster for the Concentration Camp party Promoted by Wellington's Maya bar on Blair Street, the party invite was posted on Facebook, where several people had left concerned messages questioning the appropriateness of the name. Comments included: "What is this meant to be - ironic disregard for tragedy? I find it beyond moronically offensive", and "My family's tragedy, your hilarious joke. Tasteless wankers, you are," according to AaronandAndy.com. The event was cancelled yesterday, with the bar's events coordinator saying he's "embarrassed" by the incident. "The two words 'concentration' and 'camp' tied together, provided a clever play on words, both outputting a concentration on all things gay, and also a military styled theme," Bonar Klaus Kuil told the website. "I truly apologise for any misunderstanding that has occured in relation to this theme, as well as any grievance this may have caused". The controversy come in a week where several Auckland Grammar students have been asked to apologise for posting photos of Facebook of them 'worshipping' Nazi regalia at Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 21st October 2009 - 8:34am