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A Sydney<\/a> nightclub whose name was inspired by a lesbian artist despite \u201cpredominantly\u201d targeting gay men has been forced to change its name after attracting a swift and \u201cpassionate\u201d backlash.<\/p>\n Pink Pony was set to open on Oxford Street in Sydney\u2019s LGBTQ+ heartland in early December. Kevin Du-Val, the owner of Palms on Oxford nightclub, and its manager, Michael Lewis, announced via social media their new venture was \u201cunashamedly inspired by its namesake song that resonates so profoundly within our community\u201d.<\/p>\n Pink Pony Club is a song by lesbian singer-songwriter, Chappell Roan, who said she co-wrote the piece<\/a> after visiting The Abbey gay bar in West Hollywood, which welcomes all genders and sexual orientations.<\/p>\n But news of the Sydney club was met with criticism when it emerged its \u201cpreferred clientele\u201d was young gay men.<\/p>\n \u201cIn line with our experience and our passion PINK PONY is being created specifically for 18-35 (state of mind) Gay men who love to dance and get sweaty to high powered dance music in a safe space that is theirs to enjoy,\u201d the club\u2019s operators said via social media.<\/p>\n Lewis told Gay Sydney News<\/a> on Sunday \u2013 which reported that Du-Val is aged 80 \u2013 that \u201cgirls will be welcome, but it would certainly be our desire that it is predominantly gay boys, and when I say predominantly, I\u2019m sort of talking 90% plus\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously we\u2019ve got legal hurdles \u2026 in terms of how much we can vet the crowd while still complying with the law,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Sign up: AU Breaking News email<\/sub><\/a><\/p>\n In a since-deleted comment on Instagram, as reported by Gay Sydney News, Pink Pony added: \u201cHopefully all gay venues are accepting of the full spectrum of our community, we are just being honest and open about our reason for being and our target demographic and preferred clientele.\u201d<\/p>\n In response, Heaps Gay said via Instagram the move was \u201cso disappointing and tone deaf and actually fked. Appropriating lesbian culture for your own $\/benefit for gay men!! What??\u201d<\/p>\n Another user wrote: \u201cSo it\u2019s gay men only, but the name of the club is a song by a female LESBIAN pop star? Oh I fear they missed the mark with this one!!!!\u201d<\/p>\n Among hundreds of comments, one stated the news was \u201chorrible and just embarrassing\u201d, while another encouraged Chappell Roan<\/a> to sue.<\/p>\n Early on Tuesday afternoon, Pink Pony\u2019s Instagram account was wiped, with a \u201cnew name coming\u201d holding page showing in its place.<\/p>\n Lewis confirmed the venue\u2019s name was to be changed.<\/p>\n \u201cWe acknowledge and respect the very passionate feedback from the wider community and it is clear that it\u2019s best to move forward with a different name for the new venue,\u201d he told Guardian Australia.<\/p>\n That development, too, was criticised, with one Instagram user summing up the mood: \u201clol imagine renaming ur club instead of being more inclusive.\u201d<\/p>\n