Proud Camden bar cancels Christmas party after ‘gay’ inquiry

THERE’S a lesson to be learned from social media, if you’re going to ask a homophobic question over email, expect it to end up all over Twitter.

Bar’s twitter revenge over homophobic email

THERE’S a lesson to be learned from social media: if you’re going to ask a homophobic question over email, expect it to end up all over Twitter.

London bar owner Alex Proud was going through his emails on Friday when he opened one which left him a little “shocked” and gobsmacked.

The owner of popular bar and nightclub venue Proud Camden received an email regarding a Christmas booking which asked whether his establishment was a “gay bar”.

The 45-year-old told news.com.au it wasn’t so much the question which got his back up but rather what followed next.

“We need to know as it’s against some people [sic] religion so we will need to make them aware” the email from an unnamed company asked, adding: “Will we have our own seating area?”

Proud, who said he had people of all religions, races and sexualities working and visiting his venue, responded in the best way anyone could. He didn’t get mad, he got even.

“I think best we cancel your visit. We are pretty gay and a lot of gay stuff happens here. Gay drinks, gay food, gay loos etc….”

“Sorry to disappoint. Booking cancelled.”

Proud Camden "a lot of gay stuff happens here." Picture: Google

Proud said he had a couple of glasses of wine over lunch which softened his anger somewhat and meant he decided to take a more sarcastic route instead.

He posted a screenshot of the email exchange on Twitter, deliberately blocking out the name of the company involved and posted: “So this happened. Major International car brand sent this homophobic e mail. Really shocked this still happens.”

But he said he never expected his tweet to get the response it did.

Some BIG companies (who will remain anonymous) tolerate homophobia. We do not. You should not. >> pic.twitter.com/NDeYG50ryX

— Alex Proud (@AlexanderProud) December 6, 2014

Homophobia is homophobia, I don’t care what religion you are. pic.twitter.com/1E15e32Odm

— Alex Proud (@AlexanderProud) December 5, 2014

Proud said he refused to name the international company as he had concerns over the “lynchmob mentality of the internet”, and admitted it was easy to be on the receiving end of it.

The bar and gallery owner said his point was that he simply wanted the company involved to think how this came across and perhaps make them change their thinking a bit.

“I’ve been a bit shocked by the responses really,” he told news.com.au of his Twitter post.

“I’m used to a bit of attention, but this has been incredible.

“I was just so surprised by the email as you don’t expect to come across that (thinking) anymore.”

Proud who describes his venue as “rock n roll, nightclub, gallery and full of people from all walks of life” said if you were homophobic or racist, you probably wouldn’t want to visit anyway since a lot of his staff were gay, straight, immigrants and everything else in between.

His tweet has had hundreds of retweets, shares and responses, most of whom were equally shocked and supportive of his response days later.

@AlexanderProud So much love for you over this. Businesses have values, not an universal service obligation.

— Matthew Plummer (@mwyp) December 5, 2014

@AlexanderProud @markfl007 Don't forget the gay oxygen, the gay lightbulbs and the gay lager.

— David H-T (@psicorps2000) December 5, 2014

@AlexanderProud Having a seperate seating area is very important to make sure people aren't exposed to second hand gay.

— RedJolt (@RedJolt) December 8, 2014

@AlexanderProud god how horrible and small minded some people are. There's no excuse for it. sad.

— faith & fury (@faithandfury) December 8, 2014

Best response ever! Fabulous "@AlexanderProud: Homophobia is homophobia, I don’t care what religion you are. pic.twitter.com/5H3xwXpWP8”

— Natalie Dye (@NatDTam) December 5, 2014