Councillor and owner have difference of opinion behind meaning of pub’s toilet doors

The owner of a Toowoomba pub has hit back at claims the venue’s new rest room doors are offensive, and says there has been a misinterpretation in their meaning.

BEHIND THE DOOR: The Tatts Hotel Toowoomba owner Christina Scarborough has hit back at comments the new bathroom doors in her venue are offensive to women. Picture: Rhylea Millar

When The Tatts Hotel reopened after its new renovation, owner Christina Scarborough never thought the main topic of conversation would be the toilet doors.

The new door, which leads to the women’s bathroom, is covered in the word ‘blah’ and sits beside the men’s toilet door, which has the same word listed just once.

In a post on social media last week, Councillor Megan O’Hara Sullivan said she believed the doors were offensive to women.

But Ms Scarborough said the rest room frontage had been misinterpreted.

“When I designed the doors I was thinking about the nightclub scene where girls go into the bathroom and meet their ‘best friends’ for one night,” Ms Scarborough said.

“If something bad happens to someone and you see a girl is in there upset, a group of women will often crowd around and build each other up.

“Girls like to hang out in the bathroom and have a chat because they feel supported in there and we empower each other even though we’re all complete strangers.

“Guys don’t generally have that same experience – they just want to get in and out of there as soon as possible.”

BEHIND THE DOOR: The Tatts Hotel Toowoomba owner Christina Scarborough has hit back at comments the new bathroom doors in her venue are offensive to women. Picture: Rhylea Millar

Ms O’Hara Sullivan said she questioned the “not so subtle message the amenities send to women” in her post on social media.

“I just think the messaging is women talk a lot … the word blah to me has a kind of nagging tone to it and diminishes women’s standing,” Ms O’Hara Sullivan said.

“People say it’s just a joke but it’s not a joke – to me it’s about who’s got the power in society and if you’re from a minority group and you don’t have the power you’re told to just lighten up.”

Toowoomba councillor Megan O'Hara Sullivan.

Ms Scarborough said while on reflection she could understand why people may have misinterpreted the meaning behind the door, she never intended to cause controversy.

“I was a bit shocked to see that some people had taken it this way – I’m a woman myself, I work with and employ a lot of strong women, our managers are women and I’m so passionate about supporting women,” Ms Scarborough said.

“It definitely wasn’t my intention to offend anyone – no one has approached me directly to raise it with me and the only thing I’ve seen is through social media posts.

“I just wish I was approached directly and had the opportunity to explain the real meaning behind the design.”