Lesbians and National Theatre play out legal row over T-shirts

THE National Theatre is being sued by a group of lesbian campaigners who claim their human rights were violated when they were refused service at a theatre bar.

The women allege they were turned away from the bar in July for wearing T-shirts with definitions, including “Lesbian – noun – a woman who loves other women”, before being confronted and asked to leave by security.

The National Theatre “vigorously” disputes these claims and contends that the women were excluded for their behaviour on the day, and not for their clothing.

It was earlier claimed by the institution that the lesbian campaigners, who had been protesting on the day of the incident, displayed “abusive behaviour” during disturbances at the venue.

This is also disputed, and lawyers acting for the group will argue the National Theatre discriminated against the women for expressing their sexuality, and have notified the London venue of impending legal action.

In legal documents seen by The Sunday Telegraph, it is claimed that the lesbian women were turned away due to staff feeling their T-shirts would offend a transgender colleague. “It’s a kind of liberal, inclusive enemy, which I think obfuscates it, makes it a lot harder for people to see,” said Dr Julia Long, who was among the women present at the venue on July 5, and in whose name the legal action is being launched.

A spokesman for the National Theatre said: “We embrace and celebrate diversity in all its forms, and will always do what we must to ensure that all customers and staff are treated with dignity and respect.

“The threatened claim is baseless and will be defended vigorously.”

The women, according to a legal letter, had been protesting against Stonewall’s Children and Young People Conference held in London.

They were objecting to the LGBT charity’s stance on transgenderism, later heading for a drink at the theatre on the South Bank.

It is claimed in a pre-action letter sent to the National Theatre that staff made the friends feel “very unwelcome”, and it is alleged the incident violated their right to assembly and free expression under the Human Rights Act.

The theatre, however, has strongly denied the merit of these claims. It had made a statement immediately following the incident in July, claiming there was a “series of disturbances” and “abusive behaviour towards our staff ”.

This has been denied.

‘It is a kind of liberal, inclusive enemy, which I think obfuscates it; makes it a lot harder for people to see’