'No need for gay bar' - claims O'Kane
A veteran Strabane councillor has said he believes there is "not a need" for a gay bar in the town.
James O'Kane, an Independent member of Strabane District Council, claimed it would be "very foolish."
The North West gay community has widely welcomed the annoucement of Strabane's first gay bar.
However, speaking to the 'Journal,' Councillor O'Kane said: "My own assumption is that it would be very very foolish to open it, it wouldn't be welcome.
"I'm a pioneer myself so I would not be frequenting these places anyway but I couldn't see it operating in the town. In this day and age we are all liberal but I can't see a need for it, I suppose only time will tell," Colr. O'Kane said.
Colr. O'Kane's opinion is not shared by everyone in Strabane. Mr. Stephen Birkett, spokesperson for the Strabane/Lifford Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual,Transgender (LGBT) group told the 'Journal' that it would be great for the gay community in Strabane and beyond.
However he said the gay community was an "incredibly hidden market" with a pool of people who often do not want to be recognised by outsiders as being homosexual.
Mr. Birkett said: "There are a lot of gay people in Strabane and I think people from Omagh and even Derry would benefit hugely from a gay bar in the town.
"Gay people have told me that they would really like somewhere safe and secure to meet and socialise. We have had this problem in the past with trying to find a suitable venue to hold meetings.
"The big problem is that most of the people I have talked to said they wouldn't want to be seen in a gay bar, in case their parents or somebody they know sees them."
Sean Morrin from Derry's gay rights Rainbow Project said that the opening of a gay bar could only be welcomed by everyone in the North West gay community.
"The gay community are very much a travelling community, so we would be over the moon with a new bar to go to in Strabane," he said.
On Monday, publican James McCarron, who is due to open The Central Bar, formerly Georgie B's in Castle Place, would not be drawn about his new venture, claiming that he was "undecided" about the theme.
However, on Thursday Mr. McCarron confirmed that he would "definitely" be opening up a gay venue on the Wednesday after Easter.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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