Aussies have vowed to boycott a famous queer pub after a father claimed he was kicked out for wearing a Donald Trump hat.
Rob Holt claims he was ordered to leave The Wickham, in Brisbane, on Sunday after a staff member told him people might be offended by the cap.
Mr Holt was wearing the hat with the slogan ‘Trump 2024’ printed on the front and five gold stars emblazoned in between.
‘[The staff member] said some people in here don’t feel safe and are a bit worried with you wearing that [the hat] in here,’ Mr Holt told Nine News.
The ‘confused’ dad, who was attending a Halloween event at the pub with his wife and daughter, claims he spent several hours inside the venue wearing the attire.
Aussies have been left divided over the incident with some labelling the behaviour a form of ‘discrimination’ while others vowed to never visit the pub.
‘I will keep clear of the “Woke Wickham” that’s for sure,’ one person wrote on Facebook.
‘[I] will never go to that pub,’ another person wrote.
Rob Holt (pictured) claims he was kicked out of The Wickham, in Brisbane, on Sunday after a staff member told him people might be offended by his Donald Trump hat
‘That’s discrimination against someone for having a political view,’ a third added.
Others said pubs often don’t allow people to wear hats in their venues while some questioned why Mr Holt wore the hat in the first place.
‘Every venue has the right to set a dress code,’ one person wrote.
‘Who wears a hat inside?’ one person asked.
Mr Holt said he didn’t notice any issues until he was asked to leave and added he felt embarrassed that the dramatic moment unfolded in front of his young daughter.
‘Especially my six-year-old daughter, I didn’t want her to see her father being kicked out of an establishment for what I deem to be no reason,’ he said.
‘If they were upset by it, I could have just easily removed it rather than being told to leave.’
The incident left Aussies divided with some vowing to never visit the pub (pictured, The Wickham in Brisbane)
Mr Holt told 4BC radio on Tuesday that he was about to leave the pub when the staff member spotted him sitting on a chair near the bar wearing the hat.
He claims five staff members including the manager approached him to discuss the concerns over the cap before he was told to leave.
Mr Holt said even thought he isn’t angry about what happened, he would like an apology from the pub.
‘I’d like if they got in contact and just said that it was all a mistake or something like that,’ he said.
‘It would be good to hear back from them.’
The Wickham is a heritage listed pub that was established in 1885 and became a well-known LGBTQIA+ venue in the 1970s.
According to its website, the pub prides itself on ‘creating a modern and safe space for all patrons regardless of gender identity, race or sexuality’.
Daily Mail contacted The Wickham and Mr Holt for further comment.
