Probably this one.
Posted on 03/29/2007 1:36:10 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
(Sumter) - A gay couple looking to rent a hotel room say they were turned away because of their sexuality.
"She wasn't discreet about it," said Jason Pickel, referring to a hotel employee. "She was not apologetic. She just said, 'We do not rent to gay people.'"
For the past two and a half years, Pickel and Darren Black Bear have been in a committed relationship. During a search for a temporary home, the couple says it went to Affordable Suites of America, a long-term stay hotel located on Gion Street in Sumter.
"We were inquiring about the price, deposits, extra person fee, and she asked who the room was going to be for, and I said for my partner and I,” Pickel said. “She said, 'Oh we don't rent to multiple people of the same sex.' I said, so you don't rent to gay couples? She said, 'No, we don't rent to gay people at all.'"
The website for Affordable Suites of America states the company does not allow children or pets in its suites, but there is no mention of same sex couples.
News19 contacted the hotel, posing as a potential renter, and inquired about two men staying in the same room. The receptionist who answered the phone told us the following: “Our policy is we don’t rent to two people of the same sex if we only have one bed.” “Is that your policy,” we asked. “That’s corporate policy because they only have one sleeping area.” We then asked, “Okay, but they can't share the bed?” "I suppose they could, but most men don’t want to," she said.
However, when News19 called the owner of the hotel, Carroll Atkisson, he says there had been some confusion. He says any couple can come to the place and they will rent to them, period. Atkisson says the policy was not mean to target homosexuals. He says they were just trying to stop two single people from being in the same bed.
Pickel and Black Bear say they still plan to seek legal action. "Everyone is floored, shocked and outraged," said Pickel. "We have contacted some of our friends who are activists."
Currently, there is no state law preventing a hotel from refusing service to a same-sex couple. However, it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, gender, disability, or marital status.
"If they have a policy, it has to be maintained fair and equitably," says Tom Sponseller, President of the Hospitality Association of South Carolina. "At the beach, for example, because there are different bike weekends at the beach, that policy has to be enforced, and consistent."
There is currently a bill in the State Senate that addresses this issue. The measure, proposed by Charleston Democrat Robert Ford, would expand the Lodging Establishment Act to include prohibition of discrimination because of sexual orientation or gender identity.
It's the owner's property. He can rent to whomever he pleases.
Uh, there are quite a few gay-owned hotels/bed and breakfasts that won't accommodate straight couples. The latest case I heard was in Key West.
Pickel and Black Bear - are those "code names"???
Heck I'd have turned them out just for the names.
OK...I'll go first. Is Pickle the guy or girl?
Currently, there is no state law preventing a hotel from refusing service to a same-sex couple. However, it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, gender, disability, or marital status.
So, the FPs will sue based on......hurt feelings? Freedom of association is still out there, last I heard.
Perhaps a more 'enlighted' place will put up with them.
Pickel has to be the "guy"
I can vouch for that. I have asked gays how that can not be considered discrimination and they never get it. Special class and all.
Pickel Black Bear? Somewhere an Indian is crying...
If only this were so.
You know tht in some states, the hotel owners would be hanging out "Under New Management" signs a month after the lawsuit was filed.
Property rights above all others.
Pickel and Back Door would have been most welcome there.
"Pickel and Black Bear say they still plan to seek legal action. "Everyone is floored, shocked and outraged," said Pickel. "We have contacted some of our friends who are activists."
You ever get the feeling that these people are just looking for outrage?
(I think I know the answer)
A friend of mine would not rent her home to a unmarried couple and the state of California sued her for discrimination. One should be able to do whatever they want with their own property.
I'm sure they did. **roll eyes**
I have several gay friends, and all of them would be disgusted by the act you describe.
What the hell makes you say stuff like that?
(If your source is Jack Chick, you'd be better off lying and telling us you make it up.)
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