The comments made by Louis Hotels’ director have no place in our diverse and eclectic industry, says Oliver Broad, director of travel agency RB Collection
The legalisation of gay marriage in the UK this year has directed society’s attention once again to the issue of equal rights. We have come so far, and yet it feels as if the more equality there is in society, the bigger the ‘anti-this and anti-that’ groups grow.
The rise of the BNP, controversy around the Winter Olympics and the recent law changed in Brunei that prompted the boycott of Dorchester Hotels are just a few examples of where there is still a disturbing undercurrent of prejudice in our society.
Growing up in a suburban town north of Birmingham was not an enjoyable experience for a gay teenager. But at least we grew up during a time of great change and were able to feed off pop culture and find like-minded others to share our stories, and soon realised we were not ‘abnormal’ as so many insisted on telling us.
It was incredibly unpleasant – at times unbearable – but I feel lucky to be able today to marry like any other couple in love.
My next door neighbour is from Jamaica, the young family downstairs from Turkey, I have friends from Iran, Ireland, Australia and Ghiana and I’m married to a Scouser! I never expected to lead such a culturally diverse life, certainly not back when I was a teenager.
It is hard to believe nearly, 15 years since leaving school, that things have moved on so much – how therefore can we accept some of the comments being made from those in our own diverse and eclectic industry, such as those of Louis Loizou, one of the bosses of Louis Hotels in Cyprus, concerning the winner of Eurovision this year, Conchita Wurst?
Do one thing for me when you get home – search on Youtube for Conchita’s song, and press play and close your eyes. Then ask yourself, did she have a better voice than Ruth Lorenzo for Spain or Molly for the UK?
Hopefully you will agree with me that she deserved to win with that voice. The beard in fact took away much of the political voting that has plagued Eurovision since it began.
Now, don’t get me wrong – I haven’t taken part in a pride march or campaigned for gay rights for many years, and I would never wish my own beliefs and lifestyle on any other if you are not interested.
Your opinions are your own opinions, but why share such insults publicly? Not only will you damage your brand, but surely it will only bring you bad karma too!
I’ve forgotten how many companies, brands and hotels I need to boycott these days. Can’t we just respect each other as individuals? Maybe one day.