'Everyone is equal' at Raven Pub
Venue will allow men to sit wherever they want at Magic Mike show after last year's outcry over restrictions
Robin Grant
Northern News Services
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
As Yellowknife's summer entertainment scene heats up, The Raven Pub is set to be a prime venue for events.
The bar is hosting Common Ground, Quantum Tangle, LAL and perhaps most famously, the Magic Mike male-stripper event hosted by Canadian Playboyz.
Last year, the company stirred controversy because of a strict policy on where men could sit if they choose to attend. The company was called out for gender discrimination by Pride NWT.
But this year, things will be different. Bar manager Toni Enns said everyone is welcome and can sit wherever they want.
"Before I booked this year, I made it quite clear that I wasn't going to go through that again," said Enns. "Everyone has to be equal at the Raven Pub."
She said last year the issue was misunderstood and clarified that Playboyz does not discriminate against anybody.
"I'm aiming now for making it a really fun show for everybody - now that I know the guys don't have a problem with it."
Mike Alexander, Canadian Playboyz owner and manager, said the company does not discriminate against anyone. He said the company retains a "women only" policy in its marketing, but it is only there to discourage rowdy men from attending the show and disrupting the female audience members and the dancers.
"It's happened before - male youth coming to the show for the wrong reasons," he said.
"We're fine with gay and transgender people - anybody who wants to attend. We're not fine with men - or women - who want to come and disrupt the show."
Alexander explained that in its advertising, the company doesn't want to include extensive wording about who is invited.
"It's hard for us to say, if you're gay, you can come," he said.
The Magic Mike event will be held on July 29.
