LET’S make one thing clear.
The Mandurah Mail’s recent stories about a public toilet block being used for casual sex have nothing to do with discriminating against gay men.
As individual staff members, a local business and a community-minded initiative, the Mail is committed in every way to ensuring fair coverage for everyone, regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation.
What concerns us about the situation at Leisure Way and, by all accounts, numerous other public areas in the region, is not the fact that men are having sex.
It’s the fact that these men are leaving the toilets in a mess and unable to be used by the general public.
A steady stream of cars coming and going around the public toilet block is hardly the most ideal situation – particularly for a spot as popular as this.
Parents take their children fishing off the bridge.
Dogs are walked in the area and it’s the perfect spot for birdwatching, canoeing and crabbing.
To have to navigate through rubbish left behind by those engaging in casual sex just cannot be tolerated.
There is a time and a place for such activities; our public open spaces and amenities are not the places.
Facilities provide by the City of Mandurah are for all of us to use.
The monopolisation of them by people wishing to conduct illicit affairs should not be tolerated, and we congratulate those brave enough to speak out about the problem.
Gay or straight, we value each and every one of our readers.
All we want to see is some respect for our local residents and, especially, young children.
Some things are meant to be private.
The fact that this area is public says it all.
Keep it clean.
