OUR LATEST ISSUE
SITE SEARCH
Gay News: A former National Basketball Association star has been refused entry to a Manchester gay bar.
By: Nigel Robinson
John Amaechi
John Amaechi
Gay NBA star turned away from gay bar
14 September 2010
John Amaechi, who is gay, attempted to visit the Crunch bar on Canal Street in the heart of Manchester’s gay village on the night of Friday 19 September, but was denied entry by the door staff.
Amaechi, 39, claimed that the door man had described him as “big, black and could be trouble”.
In a statement, the bar has said that Amaechi and his friends were turned away as their description matched that of another troublesome group who had been aggressive with another venue’s staff.
Speaking to BBC North West, Amaechi said: “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.
“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 where there are issues of bigotry we should pursue them very strongly.”
The bar has called the allegations “outrageous and completely unfounded”, and has said that, following discussions with staff, they were satisfied that no racist or bigoted remarks had been made.
John Amaechi was born in the USA but raised in Stockport, Greater Manchester. He moved back to America to pursue a successful basketball career and played for the National Basketball Association until he retired in 2003.
He came out as gay in 2007
