Former NBA Star’s Row Over Gay Club Entry
A Former basketball star is considering legal action over being barred from a bar, reports Jason Shaw from England. The former NBA star John Amaechi says he is now considering legal action against a bar in Manchester’s gay village that refused to let him in.
The 39 year old sportsman said a doorman at the club ‘Crunch’ on Manchester’s famous gay hotspot Canal Street, described him as “big, black and could be trouble”. Amaechi was out with friends last Friday, says he has complained to the council and demands an apology from the bar.
‘Crunch’ said entry was refused on safety grounds and called the allegations “outrageous and unfounded”.
“I want an explanation of what happened – a real true explanation – and an apology, and they have not in any way been forthcoming with that,” Amaechi told the BBC. “I think when you go to the village or when you go to any venue in a progressive city like Manchester there shouldn’t be a policy on the door that says the way that you look means you shouldn’t be able to get into a venue.
“I’m going to pursue this through all the channels I have because when there are issues of bigotry we should pursue them very strongly.”
Matt Taylor, the bar manager issued a statement claiming that Mr Amaechi was denied entry because staff received a radio message that a group matching his party’s description had been “argumentative and aggressive” with another venue’s door staff. Something that Amaechi denies most strongly.
“Following a discussion with the staff that were present at the time, we are satisfied that there was neither racism shown nor bigoted comments made as suggested.”Whilst I understand it is upsetting to be turned away from a venue when on a night out, to justify a refusal of entry by provoking a racist debate is completely uncalled for,” went on Taylor’s statement, adding Crunch is a large venue in the gay village employing people of all different groups: white, black, gay, straight and more – we do not discriminate on any grounds.
John Amaechi spent four years in the NBA, playing for big clubs including Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic, he came out as gay in 2007 with publication of his autobiography. He’s now a motivational speaker and a basketball coach.
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