A new Sydney nightclub named after Chappell Roan’s queer anthem “Pink Pony Club” (not to be confused with Auckland’s “Pink Pony”) has come under fire after organisers revealed it will cater exclusively to gay men aged 18–35.
While the founders say they’re “disappointed” by the criticism, many in the queer community argue the club’s restrictions — and its use of the lesbian pop star’s inclusive song title — are tone-deaf and exclusionary.
Launching a Club Named After a Queer Anthem
The new venue, simply called Pink Pony, was initially teased online with hints referencing Roan’s breakout anthem — a song that celebrates freedom, fluidity, and belonging for all genders and sexualities.
That excitement quickly soured when organisers followed up with a post beginning, “Hey boys,” confirming the club was “created specifically for 18–35 gay men.”
A statement from organisers claimed:
“Pink Pony is unashamedly inspired by its namesake song that resonates so profoundly within our community.”
Community Reacts: ‘You’ve Missed the Point’
The response was swift. Across Instagram, TikTok, and queer events platform Heaps Gay, hundreds condemned the move, accusing the organisers of ignoring the message of inclusion at the heart of Roan’s song.
“So it’s gay men only, but named after a song by a lesbian pop star? Oh, I fear they missed the mark with this one!!!” one user commented.
“It goes against everything Chappell and the song itself stand for — ‘where boys and girls can all be queens every single day,’ it’s literally in the lyrics!” another wrote.
Many also expressed frustration over Sydney’s queer nightlife being dominated by male-focused venues.
“As if gay men don’t already monopolise all the queer spaces,” one commenter said.
Another added, “Being gay doesn’t automatically mean you’ve dismantled patriarchy. This just reinforces exclusion.”
Organisers Respond: ‘It’s About Target Demographics’
Speaking to QNews, Pink Pony CEO Michael Lewis said the backlash was “disappointing” but insisted the club wasn’t designed to exclude anyone.
“A business having a target demographic isn’t particularly remarkable or newsworthy,” Lewis said. “Clearly we’ve unintentionally hit a raw nerve.”
Lewis explained that he and co-founder Kevin Du-Val, both gay men, were inspired by their own experiences of finding belonging in gay male spaces.
“The song resonates for us too,” Lewis said. “We wanted to create something for our community. It was never meant to be exclusionary — but with hindsight, we could have chosen our words better.”
While acknowledging the intensity of criticism, Lewis added that “overall feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.”
Still No Policy Change
Despite the public backlash, organisers have not announced any change to the venue’s entry policy or its use of the Pink Pony Club name.
For many in the community, that remains the core issue: that a lesbian artist’s inclusive queer anthem has been used to brand a space that explicitly excludes large parts of the queer spectrum.
