Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
A GAY COUPLE were allegedly asked to leave a Dublin city centre restaurant after a nearby table complained about them holding hands.
The shocking letter featured in this month’s Gay Community News magazine come just five months after this year’s landslide gay marriage referendum.
The letter said:
“My partner and I were in a Dublin city centre restaurant celebrating our second anniversary, and we were being physically tactile with each other. Not kissing the faces of each other or anything, but holding hands and looking into each other’s eyes.
“A waiter came to our table and told us that customers at another table were complaining about us. He suggested that we stop showing each other physical affection.
“We asked to see the manager, who said something similar, adding that he had no problem with gay people.
“When we said we had every right to show each other affection, the manager said that it was unfortunate that other customers were uncomfortable, and suggested that we leave. He told us we wouldn’t be charged for our meal.
“As we were leaving the restaurant, feeling humiliated, a woman at one of the tables, probably the one who had complained about us, said the word ’disgusting’.”
The unnamed couple later questioned the country’s commitment to tolerance in the wake of last May’s gay marriage referendum.
“This is not the indication, on any level, of acceptance, or even tolerance. The whole experience has really shaken the foundations of what I had come to believe post-referendum about my country.”
GLEN policy director Tiernan Brady claims that the latest incident shows how far Ireland still has to go regarding attitudes towards the LGBT community.
“Certainly in my mind I cannot understand how people could be offended by two people holding hands in public,” he told TheJournal.ie
“It shows you how far we still have to go in terms of LGBT rights.
“The laws have changed but in some cases people’s attitudes remain the same and unfortunately this is just another example of the struggles facing the LGBT community every day.
“We still have a long way to go.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Well this sounds like the Debenhams situation all over again told by email your job is gone with little else. Still dealing with the fall out from that 4 years later in the courts. I hope the staff are treated better than we the former Debenhams staff have been.
It’s too expensive to do business in this country anymore. This is only the beginning.
@Max Cooper: while I totally agree with you, unfortunately this has nothing to do with it, the UK went into administration last week, closed 7 stores with no notice yesterday with a further 100 to go, mass redundancies in head office with no notice either yesterday. It’s deeply fishy
@Gregory C Donoghue:
Your next account should be called “Walter Mitty”
lol
@Max Cooper: Or….maybe people have had enough of bolloxology nature sourced facial oatmeal crapology?
@Max Cooper: And we did it to ourselves.It will be some miracle if we get that EU Anti Money Laundering HQ today, but I suspect we won’t, based on our rapacious rates and charges, lack of accommodation compounded by widespread , unchecked anti social behaviour.
SF seem to be oblivious to the enormity of the task they face as a party that has never held power and the usual FFG suspects can only worsen the situation.
It’s a pity we can’t base an economy on Rugby and Rowing. We seem to be useless at everything else
The government are setting up a committee to look into it.
@noel donohue: something Smells here
@noel donohue: They’re not nor is there a need.
Debenhams, Argos, the Body Shop. Who’s next.
@Alex Marquis: Probably Halfords.
@Alex Marquis: Next
@Gerard Carey: Halfords are ok they have a lot of MOT centres in the UK plus service centres, tyre shops, parts stores and bicycles and all the extra stuff that goes with them.
@David McGrath: thats good
@Alex Marquis: Iceland also
Go Woke, Go Broke.
When the majority of your customers are women it probably helps if you can define what one is.
@Ollie McGlinchey: grow up.
Get your bargain price closing down sale new body now.
About 10 years, the Body Shop had a fabulous ginger body lotion/handcream for the Christmas period. It was the best one I ever used and the scent was beautiful. They never continued it . That was the problem. They didn’t move with the times re new scents, and the plastics didn’t disappear and compete with Lush on the environment issues.
What’s going on? First Argos, then M&S announce store closures and now The Body Shop.
Ah, the smell in front of their stores…
Bring back Anita Roddick – oh wait …
Can they not build the bloody thing to Stephen’s Green and talk about Charlemont as it is being progressed
have your say