Gay night added to club scene

A GAY-FRIENDLY clubbing night is starting on the Glitter Strip after the closure of the Gold Coast party precinct’s sole nightclub catering for the LGBTIQ community.

Gold Coaster Patrik Holmkvist, 33, is launching his gay-friendly party event tonight – called Rainbow Allsorts – at Underground nightclub on Surfers Paradise party strip Orchid Avenue.

The Surfers Paradise resident said he started up his business Rainbow Lounge to put on the parties at established venues after gayfriendly MP’s nightclub abruptly shut in January.

MP’s shut on January 11 after the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) axed its licence, prompting coowner Claire Kingston to call it a “closed-minded” decision.

But OLGR rejected any suggestion of an anti-gay bias, stating any decisions were made by a commissioner under the Liquor Act in “accordance with relevant legislative provisions”.

Mr Holmkvist said he noticed the lack of “gay scene” and has been in talks with multiple Glitter Strip venues about hosting Rainbow Allsorts nights.

After spending years managing gay bars on the Glitter Strip, he said he wanted to start his own business.

“I’ve been talking to a few different venues about holding gay and lesbian events,” he said. “I used to manage (Surfers Paradise gay bars) Rise and Escape over the years and since they’ve shut down it’s left a hole in the scene.”

Underground is the first to jump on board with Rainbow Allsorts, hosting a LGBTIQfriendly party every week.

Mr Holmkvist said he wasn’t interested in opening up his own bar or club as he wants it to be celebrated at venues across the Coast.

Doors open at Underground for Rainbow Allsorts tonight at 9pm with $10 entry.