Lesbians thrown out of IHOP

[Jenn! 918]

Just one kiss. That’s all it took — to get thrown out of the IHOP in Grandview.

“It was a kiss I would share with my uncle,” Blair Funk told me. Except it wasn’t her uncle she kissed. It was her honey, Eva Sandoval.

Two young women sharing a kiss didn’t seem inappropriate to the other couple in the restaurant booth that night, Jackie Smith and the woman with whom she shares her life, Toni Smith. But someone watching the scene was offended.

So later, the manager confronted them in the lobby and told them to get out.

The way Blair tells it, “He said, ‘I have to tell you, we’ve had some complaints about public displays of affection, and we’re a family restaurant. We can’t accept it, and we won’t accept it.’

“The way he worded it was like: We don’t accept you.”

These days it’s rare for gays and lesbians to be denied service in restaurants for acting like who they are. Blair assures me that she and Eva did nothing that wouldn’t have been appropriate for a man and a woman to do at a dinner date. No heavy makeout. No groping.

However, incidents like this one are not unheard of, and the people affected often can do nothing about it.

There is no federal law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. Neither Kansas nor Missouri are among the few states that protect gay people from being discriminated against in areas of employment, housing and public accommodations.

Kansas City does have an ordinance protecting gays, as do St. Louis, Columbia and University City. But if you’re anywhere else in Missouri and you’re gay, you can legally be denied service in restaurant. Landlords can refuse to rent you a place to live.

You can even be canned from your job on the suspicion that you’re romantically inclined toward members of your own sex.

“Many people are shocked to hear that people can be fired from their jobs for being gay or being perceived to be gay,” says Julie Brueggemann, executive director of the Missouri gay rights group Promo.

That would change if bills pending in Kansas and Missouri would ever pass. It’s only the first year for Senate Bill 163 in Kansas. But the so-called Missouri Nondiscrimination Act, House Bill 819, has been up time and again.

And as in past years, it has almost zero chance in Jefferson City, says Rep. Jeneé Lowe, a Kansas City Democrat, the bill’s sponsor.

“It’s surprising to me,” Lowe says, “how many people think there’s federal legislation. But there is no law.”

No law, but there is power in public opinion. So the night that she and her friends were evicted from the restaurant, Jackie Smith started tapping furiously on her computer keyboard.

E-mails to the media yielded a TV report on Fox 4, as well as a call from me.

Promo and other civil rights groups responded with support. IHOP was apologetic.

“Thank you for taking the time to contact us concerning your experience at the IHOP in Grandview,” began the letter from someone identifying himself as the guest services representative at the company’s headquarters in Glendale, Calif.

“We are sorry to learn of the difficulties you encountered at this location. Please be assured that the matter will be shared with the proper individuals to address your concerns.”

When I called the Grandview restaurant for comment I was told to ring the company headquarters. But the P.R. director there failed to return my phone calls. However, I can tell you that the restaurant chain wants Blair, Eva, Jackie and Toni to come back for pancakes sometime.

“It is our hope,” the guest services rep wrote, “that you will once again allow us to earn your patronage.”

Jackie isn’t ruling it out entirely.

“But it’s not likely,” she said.

Source

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

If they handled PDA between a straight couple in the same manner, I'd think this is perfectly fair. But that's a pretty big 'if'.

[Ban Hammer 13,332]

i need to hang out at ihop more often

[one...two...tree 2,762]

i need to hang out at ihop more often

Pigs in a blanket?

[JohnK 0]

Geez, if they were HOT I'd pay extra to see that !!

[Peikko 1,575]

It should not be possible to discriminate against people because of their sexual orientation, that's just backward.

[rebeccajo 14]

Men! LOL

When Wes worked his late shift (till 1 am), we used to go to the local all-night restaurant on Saturday after he was done.

One evening, two girls and a guy came in and sat at the booth behind us. Wes had his back to them - I could see all. The two girls were all snuggly on their side of the booth. Mind you now, it's like 2 in the morning.

I said to my husband (who could not see what was going on) - I said - "My money's on the fact that in about an hour, that guy is gonna be in heaven".

Wes immediate request was if he could trade me seats...........

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

ooooh thought it said Hip Hop

[Marc and Olga 0]

If they handled PDA between a straight couple in the same manner, I'd think this is perfectly fair. But that's a pretty big 'if'.

THAT's what I am thinking but how many "complaints" would they have if a straight couple was PDAing?

[Nessa 23]

The manager's wife probably left him for another woman, that's why...

[mRx 16]

Wonder what it is about IHOP that draws so many lesbians. I swear every time ive been to a IHOP it was "jam packed" (no pun intended) with lesbians. Im not saying its a bad thing. Well, sometimes it is. Only if there is a big bullish one near me.

[Ban Hammer 13,332]

i need to hang out at ihop more often

Pigs in a blanket?

be nice to the lesbians

[one...two...tree 2,762]

i need to hang out at ihop more often

Pigs in a blanket?

be nice to the lesbians

Ah, you're more of a stuffed French Toast person.

[Ban Hammer 13,332]

i need to hang out at ihop more often

Pigs in a blanket?

be nice to the lesbians

Ah, you're more of a stuffed French Toast person.

more like pancakes

[JayJay 4]

hehehe...hehehehehe....heheh carry on, this is funny

Poor girls - VERY poor judgement on teh part of the MOD that night...eck!