Today’s lesson: don’t be surprised if good shit comes out of pretty unlikely places. Like Gympie.
A publican from the Queensland town has come to prominence recently after one of her Facebook posts went viral, being shared over 2,000 times.
Stacey Lowe, who owns the Royal Hotel in the centre of town, is demonstrating via her no-nonsense social media presence that lo, the true heart of this movement we call Queensland Euphoric is equality.
After an incident at the pub in which a lesbian couple were harassed by some bloke (isn’t it always Some Bloke), Lowe posted a very clear statement on the hotel’s Facebook page:
“After a situation on the weekend, it’s apparent we all aren’t as advanced in our way of thinking as I would have hoped.[…]This hotel is run and based on my belief that everyone is to be treated equally, made feel safe and welcome, and can be here comfortably and able to enjoy themselves without having to put up with heckling, bullying, insults or abuse.[…]If you’re someone who bullies a person for the colour of their skin, sexual orientation, a disability or any other factor that makes them different to you…We do not wish to add alcohol to your intolerance and you won’t be welcome. It’s as simple as that.“
Stace’s legendry is not limited to stopping garden-variety bigotry in its tracks. Early last year, after reading about a cafe that asked breastfeeding mothers to “cover up or leave”, she instated a free cuppa policy – mums looking for somewhere to feed their babies without fear of getting kicked out are welcome to pop into the Royal for a free cup of tea. “No need to eat, no need to ask – please relax!” says the sign.
Who knew that a pub in Gympie, a town of about 20,000, would be the bastion of progressive action we so sorely need? Read the full Facey post below, and chuck the Royal Hotel a like here. We could all learn a lot from Stace.
Source: ABC.
Image: Facebook / The Royal Hotel.
