SOUTH AFRICA - Patrons of a popular Port Elizabeth Thai restaurant have expressed shock and outrage after getting an eyeful of "gay pornography" adorning the walls of the men’s toilets.
Narai Siam patrons told of their horror and disbelief at seeing graphic pictures depicting men about to engage in sex with one another, caricatures of men with giant members, and full-frontal photos of sexually aroused men, in the toilets.
The images can also be seen by diners on their way to the adjacent women’s toilets -- which are decorated with pictures of fairies.
Some patrons have called for signs warning of the unsuitable material, while others called for the restaurant to be closed.
Johannesburg businessman Jeff Rom, who dined at the restaurant with his wife while on holiday in the city last week, said he was surprised local diners had not yet spoken out about the "disgusting pornography".
"It goes beyond tasteful nudes – it’s outright pornography and it’s disgusting," said Rom, adding there were several young children at the venue when he and his wife were there. "I’ve never seen anything like this anywhere. I’ve travelled to Thailand but there was nothing like this there -- even as a man of 55 I found it shocking."
Psychologists have warned parents to keep children away from the restaurant for fear they could be exposed to the graphic material which saw "the innocence of children being abused".
Port Elizabeth psychologist Eugenie Apostolis said while it was unlikely the sight of the pornography would incite deviant behaviour among children, there was no place for it in a restaurant that was regularly visited by families. "The whole world is trying to protect children from this type of thing . . . but at the restaurant there is nothing to protect the child."
While Apostolis called on the restaurant to either remove the pornography or put up visible warnings, Port Elizabeth head of the organised crime unit Superintendent Willie O’Connell said the exhibition of any pornography was illegal.
"No place accessible to the public is allowed to exhibit pornographic material, or any material that would offend the public," he said.
"They (the restaurant) could even face closure if their case comes before the liquor board and they decide to take away the restaurant’s licence."
Walmer resident Brian MacKenzie, who recently dined at the venue, feared for boys who would be exposed to the pornography. "I was very taken aback when I saw the images.
"It’s not something you’d expect to find in a restaurant and I don’t think families with young children should go there."
MacKenzie added the toilet door was left open, allowing women and girls on their way to the women’s toilets a full view of the graphic material inside.
Sunridge Park resident Debbie Soper, who dined at the restaurant with her husband and friends, called the display "appalling". "Youngsters cannot handle that sort of thing. The pornography belongs in a gay bar, but not in a family restaurant. It’s immoral,” she said.
Rom said when he complained to the restaurant owner, he was laughed at. "I told the owner his toilet was in bad taste. But he just laughed in my face."
But co-owner Colin Beelders, who runs the restaurant with his life partner Kajohn Arun, denied they had set out to offend patrons. "The pictures are not porn -- they’re possibly risque, but I have never had anyone come up to me and complain about them," he said, adding he would consider putting up a warning sign. "You see this sort of thing in art galleries, and most patrons find the pictures funny, believe it or not."
from The Sunday Times
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