A new Sydney nightclub targeted exclusively at gay men has been forced into rebranding after facing a storm of criticism from lesbian users online.
The venue, originally named Pink Pony, described itself as the “gayest multi-level gay dance space” in the city, but a viral X thread accusing it of exclusion and cultural appropriation has now pushed it to the brink of cancellation before it has even opened.
Highlights
- The "Pink Pony" was meant to be a men-only gay bar named after a Chappel Roan song
- The bar was accused of erasing lesbians while appropriating their culture for marketing purposes
- The viral post quickly evolved into an online shaming campaign that pressured the owners to change the name
The controversial post has amassed more than 2.4 million views, launching a debate that shed light on the ever-present tensions between the lesbian and gay communities, who often walk a fine line between including one another and exclusion.
A nightclub exclusively aimed at gay men was forced to change names after being targeted by members of the lesbian community online
Image credits: Unsplash/Raphael Renter
It all began with a furious comment by a user going by Temmie, posted yesterday (October 13), who wrote:
“What do you mean they’re opening a gay club that is for gay men only!? And they’ve named it after a Chappell Roan song!”
The post quickly went viral, setting off an avalanche of responses accusing the owners of the soon-to-open Pink Pony of excluding lesbians and appropriating symbols from their culture.
Image credits: TRG
As Temmie continued posting, she accused the bar’s official account of “blocking anyone who calls them out,” and shared the venue’s Instagram page, launching what soon became an online shaming campaign.
Image credits: goodwitchlor
Within hours, her thread evolved into what some saw as targeted harassment, with users tagging the bar’s page, demanding public apologies, and urging followers to boycott the yet-to-open venue.
The replies section was filled with accusations of misogyny and cultural theft, while others began mocking the club’s branding and pressuring its owners to “do better.”
Hours later, Temmie announced:
“THEY’RE CHANGING THE NAME.”
Critics argued the nightclub’s name choice, combined with their target audience, was an example of “lesbian erasure”
Image credits: Instagram/new.name.coming
The Pink Pony was announced as an ambitious Oxford Street project spearheaded by manager Kevin Du-Val, known locally for his long involvement in Sydney’s gay nightlife scene.
According to local media, Du-Val said the bar was set up as a space “unashamedly targeted” toward gay men aged 18 to 35.
Nevertheless, he clarified that “of course the girls will be welcome, but it would certainly be our desire that it predominantly be gay boys.”
Image credits: TRG
That phrasing, combined with the decision to name the venue after a Chappell Roan song, was enough to ignite outrage. Critics accused the business of erasing queer women while profiting from lesbian culture.
“Naming this after a lesbian anthem then catering it to gay men only is crazy,” a user wrote.
“What is it going to take for people in this scene to listen to and respect the opinions of queer women?” another added.
The post’s creator accused gay men of regularly “invading” lesbian-only spaces
Image credits: Instagram/gaysydneynews
The backlash highlighted a long-standing friction within the LGBTQ+ community, specifically between gay men and lesbian women.
Temmie, the author of the viral post, argued that the problem ran deeper than just one bar’s marketing choices.
Image credits: Instagram/new.name.coming
“There are currently no lesbian clubs in Sydney,” she wrote, adding that “the very few nights we have are overrun by men, both straight and gay. Discrimination laws mean we can’t kick them out either.”
In other words, critics argued the Pink Pony’s eventual opening reflected a deeper imbalance in queer spaces, where male-centric venues continue to thrive while lesbian or mixed spaces struggle to survive.
Image credits: Instagram/heapsgay
“Talking openly about a ‘preferred clientele’ being male in 2025 is crazy when you’ve named your club after a song by a lesbian,” drag artist Etcetera argued. “Business owners should invest in spaces that make us all feel safe and welcome.”
While the bar defended their right to aim their business at a specific audience, they nevertheless announced a name change
Image credits: Google/TWO 3 ONE
In response to the backlash, Pink Pony’s parent company, Tuloch Pty Ltd, issued a statement defending the bar’s vision.
CEO Michael Lewis said it was “disappointing” to see the outrage spiral online:
“From our perspective, a business having a target demographic is not particularly remarkable or newsworthy, but clearly we have unintentionally hit a raw nerve.”
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Image credits: Unsplash/Fellipe Ditadi
Lewis added that while the company understood frustrations over the lack of inclusive venues, “the hate and vitriol being directed towards a small business trying to make a difference for their chosen market is a bit over the top.”
He insisted that the response to Pink Pony had been “overwhelmingly positive.”
Image credits: kremideus
Image credits: Instagram/etceteraetcetera
However, reality told a different story: within 48 hours of the uproar, the venue’s Instagram handle quietly changed to @new.name.coming, signaling a full rebrand.
The retraction was particularly striking given how proudly the team had initially justified their name choice.
Their first announcement read:
“Hey Boys, we are so excited by the amazing reaction to news of PINK PONY’s upcoming launch. It’s unashamedly inspired by its namesake song that resonates so profoundly within our community.”
Now, that post has vanished. The “gayest dance space” in Sydney is back to square one, struggling to find a name that can survive the culture war it inadvertently triggered.
Netizens kept debating online, with one side criticizing the bar and the other defending it
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