Queer couple thrown out of Tim Hortons, claiming “Family Friendly Environment”.

[suebee]

I would go back every damned day and hold hands, and pray for the PASTOR'S soul. It has to be said that Tim Horton's is a franchise, and the local owner may be the one that sets the tone for this kind of response. I have no stake in the company whatsoever, but I know that our local owner is an asshat and a bad corporate citizen. That's not necessarily the case for the company to my knowledge.

Sue


ETA: This kind of treatment would be in conflict with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We'll see if anything more comes of this.

[betenoire]

Originally Posted by suebee

It has to be said that Tim Horton's is a franchise, and the local owner may be the one that sets the tone for this kind of response. I have no stake in the company whatsoever, but I know that our local owner is an asshat and a bad corporate citizen. That's not necessarily the case for the company to my knowledge.

Right, exactly. It's not as though the manager at that individual Timmy's called up the head office and was like "hey, there are snuggling queers here! can I kick them out?"

To become an owner of a franchised location of anything all you have to do is be able to pony up the money.

So now you've got people all up in arms on social networking sites calling to boycott all Tim Horton's locations, hold "kiss-ins" across the country, etc. Blah blah blah. It doesn't sound like a useful reaction to the situation.

And besides - I don't want to have to see ANYBODY kiss anybody anywhere any time. So the idea of a kiss-in kinda mortifies me...and it'll just make us all look like douchebags.

[The_Lady_Snow]

I'm shocked it's in Canada they seem so progressive! I hope they are compensated as for the sit ins it worked on Cracker Barrel! We threw our Timmy's out in disgust.

[kannon]

Originally Posted by suebee

I would go back every damned day and hold hands, and pray for the PASTOR'S soul. It has to be said that Tim Horton's is a franchise, and the local owner may be the one that sets the tone for this kind of response. I have no stake in the company whatsoever, but I know that our local owner is an asshat and a bad corporate citizen. That's not necessarily the case for the company to my knowledge.

Sue


ETA: This kind of treatment would be in conflict with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We'll see if anything more comes of this.

A large group of gay folks should get together and attend the pastor's church.

[EnderD_503]

Originally Posted by suebee

ETA: This kind of treatment would be in conflict with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We'll see if anything more comes of this.

Yep, it conflicts entirely with the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code, at least on the basis of sexual orientation. The problem trying to press charges in these cases is that you have to get it investigated by the Ontario Human Rights Commission, which usually takes a while. That and the fact that it really doesn't count for the "subtler" forms of homophobia that are a result of heteronormative ideas of "family friendly" still largely unchallenged legally.

It's a bit of a stupid system, really, since there rarely end up being consequences for businesses who discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation other than bad publicity in the media. Technically, Tim Horton's could face charges for the actions of this particular manager. It's too bad that this incident did not take place inside the restaurant instead of outside. Some Timmy's have cameras near their drive-thrus, but we'd have to know where the couple and their family/friends were actually sitting...although if they were sitting near the window like the article said a camera inside may have caught some it on camera. It would have been nice to see what video surveillance had to say about their supposedly "inappropriate behaviour." Something tells me that they were doing pretty much what they said...and I hate all these cases popping up where companies claiming queer couples act "inappropriate" fail to give any evidence or detail, but seem more concerned with the "offense" taken by conservative patrons. It would be nice if one of them could be caught on camera.

Like others have mentioned, I doubt this is a reflection of Tim Horton's actual policies, and more the reflection this particular Tim Horton's manager and of the town itself (other articles on the incident show Riley talking about how they are often stared at when they go into that Tim Horton's, but that no one ever said anything before).

I think protesting outside this Tim Horton's in particular makes sense for the benefit of the manager (should they remain employed there...hopefully not) and the folks who decided to have a "prayer circle" in the parking lot out of concern for the couples' "souls", but not outside Tim Horton's across the nation. This seems like a pretty local thing.

I also think action should be taken by Tim Horton's against this particular manager. Public pressure has gotten managers fired for similar cases before, it would be nice to see the manager face some consequences for their actions.

[betenoire]

Originally Posted by EnderD_503

I think protesting outside this Tim Horton's in particular makes sense for the benefit of the manager (should they remain employed there...hopefully not) and the folks who decided to have a "prayer circle" in the parking lot out of concern for the couples' "souls", but not outside Tim Horton's across the nation. This seems like a pretty local thing.

Agreed. I know the town where this went down, as it's not too far from where I'm currently living. It's a shitty little town full of shitty little people.

[betenoire]

Originally Posted by betenoire

Agreed. I know the town where this went down, as it's not too far from where I'm currently living. It's a shitty little town full of shitty little people.

ETA. The town has a population of less than 4,800. And a religious breakdown that looks like this:

Protestant: 59.0%
Catholic: 26.1%
Other Christian: 3.6%
Other religions: 0%
No religious affiliation: 11.2%

Because Canada is so huge (we're the 2nd largest country in the world, by land mass) but has such a relatively small population (34.6 million approx, population density of around 3.5 per square km) we have a lot of tiny towns like this. Mostly with an aging, white, protestant, anglophone population. This is the sort of shit you run into in these towns. It's unfortunate, but that's the nature of the beast when it lives in relative isolation from people who aren't like them.

[Sparx1_1]

Originally Posted by betenoire

ETA. The town has a population of less than 4,800. And a religious breakdown that looks like this:

Protestant: 59.0%
Catholic: 26.1%
Other Christian: 3.6%
Other religions: 0%
No religious affiliation: 11.2%

Because Canada is so huge (we're the 2nd largest country in the world, by land mass) but has such a relatively small population (34.6 million approx, population density of around 3.5 per square km) we have a lot of tiny towns like this. Mostly with an aging, white, protestant, anglophone population. This is the sort of shit you run into in these towns. It's unfortunate, but that's the nature of the beast when it lives in relative isolation from people who aren't like them.

Let's not forget, of that number, about 90% have a heave Amish and/ Mennonite background. This is an ULTRA conservative area.

[Morgan]

Once again.....

Lesbian couple gets an apology and free drinks after being booted from Arizona restaurant


Kenyata White and Aeimee Diaz were celebrating their anniversary at the American Kitchen & Wine Bar in downtown Phoenix this week when they were suddenly asked to leave the restaurant for "inappropriate behavior." But after an uproar on Facebook and other social media sites, the lesbian couple has been welcomed back with open arms -- and free drinks


http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/lesbian-couple-gets-apology-free-drinks-being-booted-184013722.html

[apretty]

az is such a shitty state--i'm not even joking, i saw a guy jogging with a gun in a holster over his running shorts.

[Ebon]

It clearly states in the Bible that homosexuality is a sin...



"You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination." (Leviticus 18:22)

and . . .

"If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them." (Leviticus 20:13)

So it must be true.

[*Anya*]

Originally Posted by Ebon

It clearly states in the Bible that homosexuality is a sin...



"You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination." (Leviticus 18:22)

and . . .

"If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them." (Leviticus 20:13)

So it must be true.

Since the bible says nothing about lesbians, we're cool, right?

[Ebon]

Originally Posted by *Anya*

Since the bible says nothing about lesbians, we're cool, right?

That is correct. Lesbians are ok and in the clear.