Gay couple fury over dancing veto

The couple plan to return to the club to dance

A gay couple have demanded an apology after they were told to stop dancing together at a club in the south Wales Valleys - because it broke house rules.

Paul Rowlands, who has been a member of a Labour club in Rhondda for 18 years, said his partner was told either to sit down or leave.

Mr Rowlands, who has performed as a drag artist around the world, has claimed the club's actions amount to discrimination.

Paul Rowlands: 'Everybody is equal'

The 36-year-old is the third generation of his family to be a member of the Ty Newydd Labour club at Treherbert.

He joined when he was just 18 and has always kept up his subscriptions.

The incident occurred when Mr Rowland and his partner Andrew Conn were dancing alongside a married couple who they knew.

A committee member tapped Mr Conn on the shoulder and told him to sit down or leave.

They were told that, while women were allowed to dance together, men were not.

Mr Conn told BBC Wales: "The committee member said 'can you sit down', and I said 'what for?'

"He said because two men can't dance together.

Andrew Conn felt offended by the incident

"So I sat down and I felt really offended."

Mr Rowlands has written to the club demanding an apology and an explanation.

He said: "This is 2003 and everybody in this world is equal according to me.

"I've spoken to my colleagues in work and they think it's disgusting what they've done."

Rule

The club chairman, Mal Dix, said the rule had been brought in decades ago to prevent boisterous males from injuring other dancers.

The club has said it has now changed the bylaw and men are allowed to dance together.

Mr Dix said the couple were always welcome in the club.

"We have tried to encourage people to use the club's facilities and sexuality doesn't come into it.

"They are welcome back and they'll have a dance," he added.

Mr Rowlands and Mr Conn are planning to return to the club to put their new rule to the test.