Maori woman claims Brisbane pub refused her entry for cultural face markings

A Maori woman has vowed to take a pub to the human rights watchdog, claiming they were “racist” and refused her entry.

A Maori woman has vowed to take a Brisbane pub to the human rights watchdog after she claimed they were racist by refusing her entry due to her facial cultural symbols.

But another woman who experienced a similar act of discrimination told news.com.au she has already reported the pub’s umbrella owners to the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and made progress.

Juanita McNamara claims she was denied entry into popular Irish pub Finn McCool’s on Sunday night because of what they called “facial tattoos”, which security guards said were against their rules.

The pub has since apologised over the incident.

In a public Facebook post condemning the security guards, Ms McNamara wrote: “Tonight I was denied entry into Finn McCool’s, Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, because of my ‘facial tattoos’.

“I am a Maori woman with a moko kauae on my chin, that is considered a toanga (a treasure, not a tattoo), representing my identity as a Maori woman. And ta moko on my neck, which represents my mother and sister.

“The security tried to tell me my Maori culture, my chin is a ‘tattoo’ … They have no right to do so, and fail to realise my tattoos are cultural.”

Juanita McNamara said she was denied entry because of the cultural markings that represent her identity as a Maori woman. Picture: Facebook/Juanita McNamara

Making matters worse, Ms McNamara said one security guard who refused her entry, despite her efforts to educate them, said she was a Maori woman herself.

In her Facebook post, which attracted more than 50 comments that mostly expressed outrage, Ms McNamara said Finn McCool’s’ rules breached the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991.

“Not only is it disappointing that I have to point out my rights, legislation and education, but that this venue and their security have no idea of the law,” she wrote.

“Are we living in slave time penal colony Australia again?”

In a statement to news.com.au, a spokeswoman for Finn McCool’s said the venue had reached out to Ms McNamara and was updating its entry policy.

“Finn McCool’s Fortitude Valley has reached out to Juanita McNamara to apologise for her experience at the venue on Saturday night,” the statement said.

“Finn McCool’s Fortitude Valley has been reviewing its entry policy following extensive consultation and collaboration with key stakeholders over the past few months. Finn McCool’s Fortitude Valley is currently in the process of updating its venue entry policy to reflect and endorse the business’ commitment to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all patrons.

“Finn McCool’s Fortitude Valley will be upskilling and training staff on the new policy and procedures.”

Finn McCool's Fortitude Valley says it is updating its entry policy. Picture: Finn McCool's Fortitude Valley/Facebook

Amid the sea of comments by shocked people was an apology posted by Finn McCool’s, which read: “Hi Juanita, we are deeply sorry to hear about your experience at Finn McCool’s on Saturday night. Can you please DM us so we can call you to apologise and discuss?”

One commenter pointed out the hypocrisy of one male security guard who had neck tattoos, which was visible in a video Ms McNamara posted of the incident.

Ms McNamara responded to the comment with: “All sweet, cos ya (sic) know, this venue and these security think their venue ‘rules’ say it’s ok to be racist lol”.

Another person wrote it was “bulls**t” she was treated that way, while a more sombre comment read: “I’m sorry this happened to you”.

To the latter comment, Ms McNamara wrote: “They will be sorry when I take them to the Human Rights Commission,” an intention she repeated three more times in the post comments.

In 1991 the Queensland parliament passed the Anti-Discrimination Act, which aims to protect people in Queensland from unfair discrimination, sexual harassment and other objectionable conduct and provides a means to bring a complaint and have it resolved.

Ms McNamara says she intends to ‘take (the venue) to the Human Rights Commission’. Picture: Facebook/Juanita McNamara

She says her face markings are not a ‘tattoo’. Picture: Facebook/Juanita McNamara

Queensland’s Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 prevents discrimination on the basis of a range of attributes including race, religious belief or family responsibilities.

That includes direct or indirect discrimination on the basis of a characteristic that a person with any of the attributes generally has.

Despite the Act forbidding discrimination, licenced venues in Queensland continue to have a “no face or neck tattoos” policy that impacts people with cultural facial symbols.

In July last year, Moale James, who has Papua New Guinean heritage, was turned away from the Hey Chica! nightclub in Brisbane by a bouncer because of her facial markings.

The 23-year-old appeared on The Project to insist they were a “human right” and vowed to “make some noise” over the issue.

Ms James told news.com.au she first reported Hallmark Hospitality, which manages both Hey Chica! and Finn McCool’s, to the AHRC last August about their policy which unintentionally discriminates against people with cultural facial markings.

In light of Ms McNamara’s experience, Ms James said Hallmark Hospitality had said it would fast-track the process of updating its rules and training.

“As I understand it, the policy will no longer be specifically against face, neck or hand tattoos but will prohibit no any tattoos or clothing that are deemed offensive or gang-related”.

Ms James said she believed there was a huge lack of education and misinformation in society around markings that represent cultural history and are not the same as tattoos, or body art.

“This happens not just in nightclubs but in work places and government organisations. I’ve been told by a previous employer to cover my markings with bandaids”.

“Change takes time and... hopefully with time. this won’t keep happening”.

News.com.au has contacted Juanita McNamara for comment.