A $20 gay party held at a popular gay nightclub in Woodbrook ended abruptly last Sunday night when partygoers received an unexpected visit from a lone uniformed police officer.

TnT Mirror was told that the visit came just after midnight, about one hour after the party went into full swing.

The gay community is celebrating International Gay Pride Day 2006 this weekend (Sunday 25).

The well-known hangout for gays is host for regular sex parties and often attracts a wide cross section of homosexuals.

It has however become a major source of concern for residents living on the busy street.

They have been complaining that the behaviour of the homosexuals liming in the street and on the pavement leaves much to be desired.

One patron at the party who said he refused to allow himself to be intimidated by the presence of the officer, revealed that scores of well-dressed high-heeled “ladies” who ran scared on the sight of his uniform when he entered the lounge, all quickly scampered down the flight of stairs of the three-storey building.

His colleague meantime sat quietly in the marked police vehicle parked outside the club.

“It was really frightening,” he laughed, “but I didn’t run because I did nothing.

“Some of them could have hurt themselves in that mad rush to safety.

“You see no one wanted to take chances because anytime police appear is to lock up and no one wanted that embarrassment.”

But Mirror was told that nothing came out of the visit.

Reports are that the officer went to “the back” where the personnel were and both he and a senior official of the club came back to the front smiling like nobody’s business.

“He left quietly as he came, “ he further explained.

“Up to now we don’t know what was the purpose of the visit.”

Those who left the party in haste is said to have crowded another gay party a short distance away.

A spokesperson for upset residents said patrons who attend the well-known gay club take their activities outside and that has angered the neighbourhood.

“I live a few blocks away from the club and on Fridays and Saturdays, it’s a bomb,” he related.

“If I’m passing in my car or walking with my family, you see guys line up on the side of the road holding hands and being chummy-chummy.

“Lots of prostitutes also hang out there.”

He noted that when the club first opened no one knew it was meant for gays.

“They distributed flyers inviting people to sex parties.

“I went and in there guys make out with each other, they have sex in the bathroom it’s a real shame that that scandal is taking place right here in Woodbrook …”

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the gay community told Mirror that Gay Pride Day in TnT will be dedicated to playwright/HIV victim, Godfrey Sealy, who recently passed way.

“The gay community has lost a champion in Godfrey, he fought tirelessly.

“We must never forget what he did for the community and to keep his memory alive we must continue the struggle for equality.”