Sydney LGBTQ+ Venue Forced to Cancel Events After Landlord Cites ‘Offensive Trade’ Amid Religious Protests

A Sydney LGBTQ+ venue housed in a deconsecrated church has cancelled its opening weekend events and been ordered to cease operations by its landlord following protests from religious groups who claimed the space mocked their faith.

Divine Playhouse opened last Wednesday with a mission to provide a safe, inclusive space for artists to create and connect with audiences. The 150-year-old building in Sydney’s central business district has not functioned as a church since its deconsecration in the 1930s, subsequently serving as a children’s school and a theatre.

The venue originally planned to operate under the name Unholy Playhouse but changed it at the last minute after concerns from the Christian community. Despite the change, Catholic men’s group Fit for the Kingdom and Christian brotherhood the Prodigal Sons argued the venue itself “mocks religious faith.” Approximately 70 supporters rallied outside the building on Wednesday night, demanding the New South Wales government revoke a $100,000 grant awarded to Divine Playhouse by the state’s arts agency, Create NSW.

The following day, the landlords issued a notice of breach to the venue’s operator, Heaps Gay Events, alleging the operation “insulted and mocked the sincerely held religious beliefs of millions of Christian Australians” and giving the organiser two days to cease trading.

“We note that the trade carried on by HG Events has been the subject of significant protest and public criticism, given its offensive nature,” the notice states, adding that such trade “has caused, and will continue to cause, grievance and disturbance to owners of adjoining properties and to the general public.” The landlord’s lawyers argued that future protests were “almost certain to occur and are likely to endanger members of the public,” justifying the short compliance window. The legal representatives did not respond to requests for comment before publication.

Divine Playhouse cancelled its weekend programming, and its future remains uncertain. The venue’s and Heaps Gay’s Instagram accounts have been deactivated following complaint campaigns.

James Thorpe, founder of the Odd Culture Group and co-chair of the Night Time Industries Association, described the situation as “deeply concerning” and warned of broader implications for the city’s cultural landscape.

“Freedom cannot mean the freedom to say what you believe while demanding silence from everyone who disagrees,” Thorpe wrote in a LinkedIn post. “For generations, queer people have fought for places to gather, perform, be loud, irreverent, joyful and entirely ourselves. Christians have a right to preach, protest and stand outside Divine Playhouse and pray. Queer artists have the right to make art that is confronting, irreverent and, yes, offensive.”

Sydney’s deputy lord mayor, Jess Miller, endorsed Thorpe’s statement on Instagram. Speaking at the venue’s opening, Miller celebrated the space as a community hub. “What happens between us when we come to places like this is we create [like] cathedral communities that are ultimately so much stronger for being together than for being split,” she said.

Divine Playhouse promoter and Heaps Gay founder Kat Dopper said at the launch that the venue aimed to be “super accessible for arts and culture communities to use without having to spend a million bucks.”

In separate statements, the Prodigal Sons and Fit for the Kingdom said they were not seeking to silence anyone but wanted to highlight “how deeply this material has wounded a community of faith.” The groups objected to content from the opening night, including a performer dressed as a pig offering McDonald’s french fries as holy communion. A Fit for the Kingdom spokesperson condemned “hateful blasphemy that mocks what we hold most sacred,” citing “performers dressed as nuns waving sex toys” and “drag queens reenacting the birth of Christ.”

“There is no shortage of venues across Sydney where the LGBTQ community is free to express itself and its artistic creativity,” a Prodigal Sons spokesperson said. “The selection of a former church is a deliberate and conscious decision.”

The controversy has been amplified on social media by Christian influencers and the conservative Family First party. Religious groups are expected to gather at Divine Playhouse on Friday to “join in prayer for the souls of the people behind this desecration,” with NSW Police confirming officers will be present.

The City of Sydney is currently considering a proposal to redevelop the church into luxury apartments. Create NSW, Deputy Lord Mayor Miller, and Kat Dopper have been contacted for further comment.

Source link