Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Uproar After NC State Agent 'Fixes' Girl's Lunch Preschooler has to eat chicken nuggets instead of mom's meal »

Restaurant Boots Gay Men After Kiss

Police cite 'right to refuse service'; others blast discrimination

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 10, 2009 11:31 AM CDT

(Newser) – Five gay men were ordered to leave a Texas restaurant after two of them kissed, the El Paso Times reports. One called police to lodge a discrimination complaint—but an officer backed the restaurant guards’ decision because same-sex public kissing was illegal, said one of the men. In fact, a 2003 Supreme Court decision ruled that law unconstitutional, and El Paso has banned discrimination in public places based on sexual orientation.

“It was a simple kiss on the lips,” said one of the men, who said he heard a guard say the restaurant didn’t put up with “that faggot stuff.” The incident has sparked a debate about the restaurant’s decision. A police detective held it was “their prerogative” to “refuse service to whoever they don't want there.” But a local lawyer called the incident “a blatant refusal to uphold the law on account of discrimination.”

El Paso.
El Paso.   (Shutterstock)
Five gay men were kicked out of a restaurant after two kissed.
Five gay men were kicked out of a restaurant after two kissed.   (Shutterstock)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 62 comments
BrettBouler
Apr 12, 2011 4:20 AM CDT
I want to know the name of the restaurant so that I can go to all the gay organizations and start a decent sized boycott.
Snarfeh
Jul 15, 2009 5:53 AM CDT
Children need protection from abnormal behavior? That's exactly why Newser comments from you should be blocked.
armywife
Jul 11, 2009 12:58 PM CDT
the kiss was described as a simple peck, like i give my husband in public all the time. had they had their tongues down each other's throat and been writing on the booth, then that would be different. but they didnt, they behaved appropriately, the guard did not.

More Newser Stories

Landmark Texas Sodomy Case Slips Perry's Mind

Cheerleader: Gay Kiss Got Me Booted Off Squad

Cops Forced Me to Listen to Limbaugh: Suit

News Flash, Rick Perry: Texas Border Is Safe

Texas Town Furloughs Entire Police Force


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne