US Author Armistead Maupin's Forgives Insult To Partner In Australia

Herald Sun:

AMERICAN author and gay rights activist Armistead Maupin says he has never felt more welcomed by a country, despite his partner being the target of homophobic insults at an Alice Springs hotel.

Mr Maupin said his partner asked a bartender where the men's bathroom was while they were having lunch last Friday and was told to go across the street to use the public toilets because the hotel's toilet was reserved for "real men".

Read the whole story: Herald Sun

Comments

[fredgladys]

10:56 PM on 03/20/2011

Armistead Maupin shows a lot of class dismissing the bar tender's actions for what they are - the actions of an ignorant hick. Australia is fairly tolerant and has the biggest gay parade in the world and it is not marred by anti social behaviour. The only malcontents are a small group of religious right wing wackos who everybody ignores anyway.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Gay_and_Lesbian_Mardi_Gras

[french queen13]

10:38 PM on 03/20/2011

People may be pleased to know that bar has received a LOT of emails and calls complaining about that halfwit's disgraceful behaviour.

[PrairieGayCompanion]

12:32 PM on 03/20/2011

It looks like Priscilla and her friends need to make another road trip to Alice Springs.

[Indigo1941]

11:38 AM on 03/20/2011

I'm sure it's just fine in Australia and I trust Armistead's judgment. All I really know about gay Australia is what I learned from watching "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" and I can readily understand that it might have been somewhat misleading. But the important question is whether the bartender was hottie and whether he was just having a bad day and felt rejected, somehow. Poor fellow!

[Lola Jordan]

10:02 AM on 03/20/2011

Maybe not, but they're racists.

[french queen13]

10:37 PM on 03/20/2011

Don't make such sweeping statements, please. SOME Australians (of any racial background) are racists, same as SOME people from any country are.

[Soulmentor]

07:36 PM on 03/19/2011

It's not surprising to hear comments like those of that bartender, but it IS surprising to hear it from a bartender at a public business that certainly serves all kinds of people.I know Mr Maupin's partner personally and you could not ask for a nicer and, I might add, more handsomely masculine man. To hear of the insult to him strikes at my spirit.

[NancyPeske]

11:30 AM on 03/19/2011

Having had the pleasure of working with Armistead Maupin, I'm not surprised that he responded to this insult with smart action and a hilarious comment that reminds us we can't let ourselves get totally bent out of shape by these things. A little humor goes a long way! And good for him for pointing out that the hotel itself responded appropriately. No company can ensure that every employee acts the way they'd want them to act, but it sounds as if this incident was properly handled.

[bernusdellus]

09:02 AM on 03/19/2011

Heh. When I left England at the age of 21 (many years ago), I'd never met a homosexual. Within a year of living in Australia I'd been propositioned and hit on by dozens, if not hundreds.

These days it's accepted and that's fine with me. In those days, it was surrealistically weird.

Either way, Australia isn't the place to go if you're looking for LGBT intolerance. George Michael would fit in extremely well. :)

[Soulfest]

01:15 AM on 03/19/2011

I once went on an Armistead Maupin Tales of the City binge. Read all the books in the series, than rented all the DVDs. The mini series with Laura Linney.

[sabelmouse]

10:23 AM on 03/19/2011

how many tales are there exactly ? i've omly ever sen 2 seasons of the show. i should really read them all while i still can.

[GraceNotes]

03:07 PM on 03/19/2011

He actually has a new book in the series, with Mary Ann (the Laura Linney character) revisiting San Francisco after being away for something like 25 years. I cannot recall the title right now, but the whole series is good. He also wrote The Night Listener, which has also been made into a film.

[Soulfest]

05:31 PM on 03/19/2011

The books that I read are Tales of the City, More Tales of the City, and Further Tales of the City. I am not sure how many videos I watched. There might be more books, but I only read the three in this series, and might have tried to read something spun off the series, cannot remember....

[Roxee]

11:51 PM on 03/18/2011

Thank you Armistead for not condeming a whole nation for the bigoted comments of a few.

[deans2cents]

10:20 PM on 03/18/2011

But have they read your books?

[Minion]

06:39 PM on 03/18/2011

I bet they don't play any "fu$kin Abba" at that hotel!

[Bill J4321]

05:21 PM on 03/18/2011

People should make sure to keep their families and children away from the heterosexuals.

You can't open a newspaper or turn on a TV these days without seeing their immorality and wicked ways shoved down our throats.

[BlackJAC]

06:07 PM on 03/18/2011

I know you find our lifestyle unnatural, immoral and offensive, but it's not like we chose it.  :)

[Bill J4321]

06:47 PM on 03/18/2011

Repent!!! : )