A Montana story: I do not rent to your kind

[TexasTowelie]

By Kathleen O’Donnell

When I was 17, I joined the Army National Guard. I completed basic training before the end of high school and by 2009, I began my service. I am proud to be an American, I am proud to have served my country, and I am proud to be a member of the LGBTQ community. Marrying my wife was the happiest day of my life. Our love would prove to be a haven of safety and comfort, and necessary to survive the pain of the experiences to come.

In 2014, my wife, 6-year-old son, and I moved from Great Falls to Billings to be close to our giant Irish-Catholic family. I was tasked with the responsibility of finding a home for us to rent. I arrived at an open house and, after a tour, asked the landlord for an application. The landlord looked at me reluctantly and asked who else would be joining me, and whether my fiancée was a girl or a boy. Upon hearing “girl,” the landlord looked me directly in the eye and promptly said, “I do not rent to your kind.”

Confusion, anger, and sadness raced through my head. What exactly is “my kind”? To me, “my kind” is a good person with a stable job and excellent rental history in search for a home for her family. “My kind’” has a history of being actively involved in her community, volunteering for Little League and helping out in the schools. “My kind” raised her right hand and served her country with pride and sacrifice. I couldn’t believe that this was even legal. There was nothing I could do, no policy that existed that would give me the support to stand up to someone who had treated me with such prejudice and disrespect. All because of who I loved.

I began to heal. I took a position at a car dealership and was quickly promoted for excellent performance, working long hours and clearly exceeding my sales goals. In spite of my hard work, I was approached by the manager who, with tears in his eyes, said “I don’t know how to tell you this, but I was told I had to fire you.” He admitted that the new owner and his son “did not like me,” and that I was to be terminated before Monday, before the end of my six-month probationary period. I asked him why they didn’t like me. “Because you are gay,” he said.

Read more: http://billingsgazette.com/news/opinion/guest/guest-opinion-a-montana-story-i-do-not-rent-to/article_cbcee3ed-43ab-5a3b-bbd0-e5d5e501767b.html

[dchill]

1. K&R.

[panader0]

2. I truly do not understand homophobia.

People are people. I don't think I've ever met mean gay people (heterophobes?)
But I've met lots of mean straight (homophobic) people.
And who cares who's peeing in the stall next to you?
As Morgan Freeman says in 'Driving Miss Daisy'--"I'm a grown man.
I know when I have to make water."

[mwooldri]

6. Me neither.

Adam & Eve? Adam & Steve? Adele & Eve? and Eve was Steve? Frankly, I couldn't care less about someone's sexuality or sexual identity. It's who one is in their heart that I care about more.

[Solly Mack]

3. Fucking bigots. Worthless, piss-poor excuse for human beings who will

never ever make a positive contribution to society.

I am so sorry Kathleen O’Donnell and her family had to go through all that.


K&R

[world wide wally]

4. I am sure that in both cases, it was simply a matter of deep, devout religious conviction

and they were just exercising their "Liberty"

[GeoWilliam750]

5. Disliking LGBT is always puzzling

A view from a straight white guy....

Of the gay and lesbian people I have known, they have typically been of well-above average intelligence - and often with a far better sense of humor.

They have tended to be more self-aware than average, having thought longer and in greater depth about who they are than straight people have found necessary.

They then have chosen to find the courage to brave the antipathy of a significant part of society to live as who they are with whom they love.

It would seem that many are thus far more resourceful, and live well in spite of the obstacles.

From a totally selfish point of view in the context of society as a whole, the only vaguely possible negative aspect of LGBT is that these typically bright, self-aware, brave and resourceful people are reducing their contribution to the collective gene pool.

[LeftInTX]

7. Did you move to Montana, Texas Towelie?

On the plus side: Summers will be nicer
Down side: Cold winters

Politics: Red just like Texas

[TexasTowelie]

8. No, it was a busy news cycle there.

It looks like a lot of legislative bills were seeing activity recently. However, personal circumstances might take me anywhere in the country soon enough.

[DK504]

9. Sweet Mother.

Horrible, absolutely horrible. Find a lawyer - stat. This shit is unacceptable.

[shadowmayor]

10. To all the small minded bigots

Fuck you - I don't like your kind!

[lpbk2713]

11. What a crock of s**t.

I have no use for anyone who thinks they might be good enough to
look down their nose at someone, whatever their reason might be.