Applying the Law to Clubbing

           after the Equal Opportunity Act, Victoria, 2010




Scenario A

Dorcas and Berhat are in a very long queue

waiting to get into the revamped night club

equipped with the latest lasers and fusions

of African beats to Arabic chants

They wait from minutes to hours

still heartened             as the queue gets shorter

they notice                   Bridget and Lisa

are let in                       Angela and Mary are

let in                              Christian and Noah are

let in                              Sophia and Gerard

are let                            in

Theo and Georgia       in 
Dorcas and Berhat are confident

they will be next         surely

as they booked in advance

they paid for their tickets

full price

it’s a mere matter of time

for the large security guard

looking at his watch

to look them in the eyes

But the door stays closed

and the guard turns his back  
Scenario B

The door was closed

but 44(1)(a) and 44(1)(c)

were determined

they pounded the door

with fists holding paper

sealed by Parliament’s preamble

to promote and facilitate the progressive

realisation of equality 
Theory 

There was no denying them access

they were wearing the sections

furthermore

the beats were their childhood

the chants were their ancestors 
In Practice

The door opened

as far as reasonably practicable

to let	Bridget and Lisa Angela and Mary Christian and Noah Sophia and Gerard

Out

Inside, sections 44(1)(a) and 44(1)(c)

held tightly to Dorcas and Berhat

as they danced to one side of the floor

but they couldn’t make Theo and

Georgia share the dancefloor

with a welcoming smile
The Equal Opportunity Act, 2010 Victoria, addresses racial discrimination, which is illegal. However, racist behaviour at certain night clubs

is a common complaint within social justice and human rights advocacy work. Although this type of situation occurred, the names are made up

and cultural consultation was conducted.