“Education begins at home. You can’t blame the school for not putting into your child what you don’t put into him.” – Geoffrey Holder

This is a very exact thought that comes to your mind when you see the staff of a hospitality chain misbehaving with their guests, who portray to be the most queer-friendly.
The famous nightclub chain ‘Kitty-Su’ from the Lalit Group of Hotels finally opened the doors of their Delhi club on 10th June 2022; after almost two years. It was a buzz in the town, especially for the queer community, because at a point in time it was considered a hub for the community. However, considering the current experiences and what we saw that night, it all seems to be a sham in the glam.

It was all good till we entered the gates of the hotel. The crowd looked amazing and so does the turnaround. I, my partner; along with a close friend was looking forward to that night. The problem began with the frisking by the bouncers at the club entrance. Manhandling is something we queer people hate the most, which was quite evident from the looks of the people. A look is all you need to know the feelings of the person about what they have gone through. I saw them either perplexed or despised.

Then came the turn of my partner, who was inspected similarly. He was searched thoroughly as if we were here to create a nuisance, and later they took his lip-balm and threw it in the bin, laying next to him, without asking any questions. That was discomforting. In my turn, I felt the reason for those looks. What came as a shock, was when they even threw away the condom from the friend’s pocket. There was a time when condom dispensers were there in each lavatory. I believe they have given up on the idea of safe sex practice.

Many people were smoking on the dance floor, choking on others’ comfort; which was easily allowed. However, a lip-blam and a condom would have brought the floor down. Not sure what else they would have thrown that night in the name of security. Well, the people were also been thrown off the empty stages; and were treated like a freeloader which was never the case.

While the organisation conducts several inclusive sessions for the world, what kind of training have they provided to the staff? Or it was too quick to get things ready just like their makeshift stage and dance floor. It might seem like anguish, but it’s not. It’s just to remind those patronised people that hospitality is a business for and from the people; you will reap what you sow. And that night you lost one.