A club at L’Usine, a hotspot for alternative culture in Geneva, reserves discounted tickets for “queer and racialized” people. This initiative, which is intended to be unique in Switzerland, sparks debate on inclusiveness and positive discrimination.
Within the Usine grounds, a new club called Le Kauri offers a pricing policy that appeals: out of the 200 tickets available during each evening – with prices ranging from 5 to 15 francs – 20 places at the lowest price are automatically reserved for LGBT+ and racialized people.
The Shell collective behind this alternative bar, itself made up of queer and racialized artists, defends its approach in the name of inclusiveness. “By offering reduced rates to certain people, we encourage the participation of communities who, statistically, encounter difficulties in accessing cultural spaces due to structural inequalities in our society,” explains the collective on Saturday in the 7:30 p.m.
Our cheapest places are not only reserved for queer and people of color, but open to everyone. We do not sort at the entrance, everyone can pay according to their means
To establish its price system, the collective was inspired by other cultural spaces in France and Belgium. “The feedback from our public is in favor of a price scale adapted to everyone’s means. Our desire is simply to facilitate access to nocturnal cultural spaces for members of our community who very often face a certain precariousness.”
An initiative that divides
This initiative divides the Geneva political world. Maxime Provini, president of the PLR Ville de Genève, expresses his dismay: “Fighting against discrimination by creating a new one is not at all the right response. We are in a place which is open to all and which will be open to all. always and we do not need to make differentiated prices according to criteria which are completely abstract.”
There is no ban on access, which would have been much harsher if we had said that white or male people do not enter.
Adrian Stiefel, head of the Geneva LGBTI Antenna, questions the perception of this measure: “The intention is laudable. It is important to create ‘safe spaces’, spaces of security for a social group which has could or can be marginalized or discriminated against Now, will this decision to apply a difference in prices rather widen a divide In a desire to include a larger number, we can sometimes also be led to apply? measures that can end up being exclusionary for other people.”
Acceptable for the City of Geneva
The City of Geneva grants several subsidies to associations hosted within the Factory. Sami Kanaan, administrative advisor in charge of Culture, sees the Kauri pricing system favorably. “I understand that it arouses reactions. But at the same time, there is no problem as long as it arouses debate around discrimination which is unfortunately still real. In addition, we are talking about a difference between 5 and 15 francs and there is no ban on access, which would have been much harder if we had said that white or male people do not enter,” argues the socialist.
The Shell offers a varied program including DJs, live music and readings, with the stated ambition of offering a space for all, while seeking to promote access for people from minorities.
TV subject: Guillaume Martinez
Adaptation web: itg
