Venue patrons disgusted
DJ at Society “reprimanded” for use of homophobic slur
A TOOWOOMBA nightclub has apologised after a DJ booked to play a gig on Saturday night repeatedly called patrons “faggots” over the microphone system.
Numerous people took to the Society, formerly Agenda, Facebook page to vent their frustration at the alleged homophobic slurs, with one contacting The
Chronicle stating she was “disgusted” at the events on the weekend.
“Myself and others witnessed the house DJ J-Dub use the homophobic slur ‘faggot’ over the microphone three times, once as an insult in response to a fight that had broken out on the dance floor and the other to what I can only assume (was) to get a rise out of the crowd,” Indi Davis said.
“I’m disgusted that the LGBTQI community are facing this kind of discrimination no more than a week after receiving legal equality on such a public platform.”
Other Facebook users left posts on Society’s Facebook page detailing the slurs.
“Wow just left Society... because their DJ just stopped the music to call someone a faggot three times,” Richie Swindler wrote.
J-Dub, whose full name is Jake Wiemers, was contacted for comment but did not respond.
In a statement to The Chronicle, owner of Society Ben Quach apologised to those in attendance who were offended by the slurs, confirming the DJ had been “reprimanded”.
“As a venue, we have publicly and privately apologised to those who reached out to us and made us aware of the hurt and frustration that the word caused, regardless of intent,” Mr Quach said.
“Society and its staff are in full support of the LGBTQI community and all the hard work they have done in the past and present to bridge the gap of equality and acceptance.
“The DJ has been reprimanded with a penalty which he fully accepted as well as agreed to attend anti-discrimination training and education as part of that reprimand. He, of his own accord, has issued apologies and those apologies have been accepted.”