Straight Couples Say Fla. Hotel Unfriendly

[demdave]

KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) - Three heterosexual couples said they were turned away from a hotel in this gay-friendly tourist spot because of their sexual orientation.

The six were vacationing with a gay couple and had reservations at a hotel called Big Ruby's when the three straight couples were turned away.

"The manager literally said, 'We don't want you here,'" said Jim Pirih, who was vacationing with his partner and straight friends.

The group was already settled in their rooms Wednesday when the manager told the straight couples they would have to leave, citing a policy of not allowing heterosexuals on the property, Pirih said.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nat-gen/2004/apr/16/041607678.html

[Misinformed01]

1. You know, if they had been thinking creatively

they COULD have stayed....

3 men/3 women.....easy solution

[DarkPhenyx]

2. I despise discrimination.

In all of it forms. The hotel owner is an idiot.

[Misinformed01]

4. S/he (hotel owner) is in this economy

no doubt.

However, that said...I still would have lied about being gay: Key West is a blast!

[bigendian]

3. Heterophobia?

Prejudice is a two-way street.

[kevinhnc]

5. About the hotel owner

I completely agree the hotel owner is absolutely wrong, and treating gay-friendly people this way only makes it worse.

It brings up an interesting point, though, had the heterosexual friends ever felt that way before, discriminated against? Maybe if all of America had only felt that horrible sinking feeling just once, then gays wouldn't be having the trouble they are having now fighting for equal rights.

[bigendian]

6. In other words.

It serves them right?

* on edit *

I don't mean to bait but the cycle has to be broken. I have been treated rudely at a lesbian lounge, but I give them the benefit of the doubt and will go again. It could have been a bad night.

I truly believe the manager was worried more about his guests being offended.

[drkedjr]

7. Hotel Het

Do people really believe this at face value - that 3 "heterosexual couples" were asked to leave? I wish everyone
reading this knew what it's really like to totally depend on non-gay "payers" to survive in the business world. Even
P-Town and Key West know the score.

[DarkPhenyx]

9. Are you saying it is impossible?

Just curious.

[DarkPhenyx]

8. It still does not justify...

...one group which is discriminated against doing the same to others. That whole "eye for an eye" thing leaves us all blind and toothless.

[drkedjr]

10. No

I think the original report about the "heterosexual couple" being asked to leave is bogus!

[mitchtv]

14. that was recently attempted here ,in Palm Springs,

the services of a notorious LA ambulance chaser was employed. Not true say the mgrs. Girls bars have a particular problem with strates coming in to gawk, pickup women, , and in general dilute the clientel where as the regulars leave. tough situation there.

[DarkPhenyx]

17. How do you know?

You think it is completely impossible for a het white couple to be discriminated against?

[BostonTeaParty04]

11. What is unconscionable is that this made the national news...

Seriously.... horrors... some heteros were discriminated against.

How many people were discriminated against today in the good ole USA???? blacks, asians, gays, illegal aliens, muslims, etc. etc. etc.

Sure, these couples can make a stink and file a lawsuit... fine. But should it be national news? Not in light of the discrimination going on for sooooooooooooooo many people...

[DarkPhenyx]

16. So you don't think all discrimination is news worthy?

You don't think that the realization that even hetero white people can be discriminated against might not help us all? For shame.

[leQ]

12. i'd have to know the owner before i could make a decision

on whether or not that was the right (no pun intended) thing to do.

i know a couple of owners down there who would let them stay as long as they weren't there to cause problems, but wouldn't hesitate to toss their buns out on the street if they were there for 'other' reasons..

but i do know owners of gay establishments who very much will escort straights out the door without so much as batting an eyelash. of course, nobody in their right mind would turn away a good looking couple, gay OR straight. :)

[mike1963]

13. I don't think I believe this 'story'. There is more to it.

http://www.bigrubys.com/english/kw/

[slinkerwink]

15. waaaawaaaa, poor breeders!!!!

:evilgrin: now you know what it's like to be discriminated!

[clonebot]

19. setting themselves up for a fall...

why exclude heterosexual people? i thought the point of homosexual activision is the promote equality and show that there is no difference between people just because of sexual orientation. it seems like some homosexuals like having boundary lines drawn.

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

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[kodi]

28. yes, that's the ticket, wound for wound. nice world

nice to see that mantel of insufferable moral superiority fall.

[TexasProgressive]

18. random thoughts on this from a gay man in texas

it is kind of bizarre that this is national news. they just love talking about us, don't they?

there are a couple of "gay hotels" that i stay at once in a while. one is in dallas, the other is in oklahoma city. not exactly gay meccas, right? both places cater to gays and lesbians, exclusively. both places have had some trouble over the years with homophobes. it's understandable that they are protective of their clientele. it's also interesting to note that in both cities, there are countless numbers of places a gay couple might go and NOT be allowed in the door. there are countless places a gay couple could go and actually be in danger, and i mean that. i was the victim of a stabbing in dallas one night many years ago.

so i'm not crying much for these three couples.

on the other hand, considering where this happened, and considering the fact that they were accompanied by a gay couple, you want to think that the establishment might have welcomed them.

still, i don't know. why the hell should we have to? we've been shut out of everything. the GOP even wants to write us out of the constitution. one gets tired of turning the other cheek.

[JoFerret]

20. Poor dears

....could they not find anywhere hetero-friendly in this whole wide world? And do they fail to understand that in a hostile world gay people may want somewhere that for once is comfortable?
Now - with that empathetic experience will they support gay marriage?

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

23. In other news...

In other news, gay couples say Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi unfriendly.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

24. If they'd turned me away, I'd have said

"I'm sorry you feel that way; but it won't make me stop supporting GLBT rights."

Maybe it'd make them think about who they put off...

[Dr Fate]

25. I'm not sure this is even true...

I've been to "gay" places and I've never experienced anything like this- except perhaps being ignored!!!

I think it is important to include this part of the article:

Scott Fraser, executive director of the Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Key West, said any discrimination based on sexual orientation is wrong.

"Whether it's a couple turned away from a place of business because they're gay, or a straight couple refused admittance because it's a gay facility, socially and legally that's discrimination and equally as unacceptable," Fraser said Friday.

[Rex]

26. Wow, people are people after all.

Whowouldhaveguessed? :shrug:

[FreeState]

27. Its not a HOTEL its a clothing optional resort

Its not a HOTEL its a clothing optional resort i.e a gay bathhouse. Why would a straight couple want to stay at a form of a gay sex club?

(note: most clothing optional gay resorts, at least on the west coast are known for being nothing more than glorified bath houses, at least in my experience as an employee of a company that owned one such hotel).