03/29/2007
SC Couple Says Hotel Turned Them Away for Being Gay
A gay couple together for two and a half years says that Affordable Suites of America, a long-term stay hotel located in Sumter, South Carolina, turned them away because they are gay. Jason Pickel and Darren Black Bear say they inquired about renting a room at the hotel while they search for a home.
Said Pickel: "We were inquiring about the price, deposits, extra person fee, and she asked who the room was going to be for, and I said for my partner and I. She said, 'Oh we don't rent to multiple people of the same sex.' I said, so you don't rent to gay couples? She said, 'No, we don't rent to gay people at all.'"
News19 of Columbia called the hotel to follow up. They were told by the hotel receptionist: "Our policy is we don’t rent to two people of the same sex if we only have one bed." Carol Atkisson, the hotel's owner, says there was a misunderstanding: "He says any couple can come to the place and they will rent to them, period. Atkisson says the policy was not mean to target homosexuals. He says they were just trying to stop two single people from being in the same bed."
According to News19, "Currently, there is no state law preventing a hotel from refusing service to a same-sex couple. However, it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, gender, disability, or marital status."
Couple: Hotel Wouldn't Rent to Us Because We're Gay [news19]
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Posted 11:45 AM EST by Andy Towle in Discrimination, Hotels, News, South Carolina | Permalink
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I was confused by the statement at the end of the wltx.com story:
"At the beach, for example, because there are different bike weekends at the beach, that policy has to be enforced, and consistent."
What is a "bike weekend"?
Shame the video didn't work either.
Posted by: anon | Mar 29, 2007 2:58:15 PM
ANON, it's a wknd where people enjoy motorcycles gather. Similar to what they have in Daytona. I guess it's like a biker 'convention'.
Posted by: otto | Mar 29, 2007 3:22:11 PM
When you are talking Gay Dollars ... who would want to be in the know on this issue more than HILTON HEAD.
So ... I emailed the Hilton Head Chamber of Commerce with my concern about wanting to visit them - but with my concern about this issue. A very nice gay man wrote back.
Here is his response:
---------------------------------------
Hello,
Thank you for your inquiry about lodging on Hilton Head Island. I will try to answer your question with a few words, but please feel free to call me if you would like to talk in more detail. I too, am in a gay partnership and have been an we have been island residents for the last 20 years.
I have never felt any discrimination on the Island in my personal life as well as my public life as an employee of the Chamber of Commerce.
I work with the area hotels on a daily basis and I have never known them to discriminate against anybody for any reason.
I am very sorry that this happened with a hotel in South Carolina in the past, but I am not aware of it happening here in the past or currently.
I have worked with many meeting planners that are gay and they have never felt any discrimination while here doing business on Hilton Head Island.
It is my hope that you will not judge Hilton Head Island by the actions of others from other areas. If you’re looking for rest, relaxation, a great beach and an eco friendly lifestyle, please reconsider Hilton Head Island for your summer vacation. If you have any questions or if I can explain the resorts with you and where you might be happiest, please call.
Also, if you would like to send me your mailing address I will be delighted to forward you a Hilton Head Island Vacation Planner.
Kind regards,
Hilton Head Island - Bluffton Chamber of Commerce
Visitor & Convention Bureau
PO Box 5647
Hilton Head Island, SC 29938
(843) 341-8362 - Direct
(800) 523-3373 - Toll Free
Dont forget to checkout out website ...
and Travel South
Posted by: RJP3 | Mar 29, 2007 3:24:54 PM
Telling someone that they can not rent a room because they are gay is unacceptable.
I could see how in the past two straight guys would rent a room with one bed to save money - and hotels might have created a policy to avoid loosing the cash ... BUT
TIMES HAVE CHANGES .... two in a bed has to be the rule now .... because you just can not tell who is a couple or gay or not.
Posted by: RJP3 | Mar 29, 2007 3:27:32 PM
Ok, I'm not from SC so I don't pretend to know "the ways" of these people but I did choose to move here, somewhat willingly, and I have learned a few things, like the meaning of "bike weekends." Every year Myrtle Beach hosts several motorcycle rallies/events that draw thousands of people from all over the country and last about a week with most people attending on the weekend. And, because it's the South, there's Bike Week and then there's Black Bike Week.
Posted by: Marti | Mar 29, 2007 3:30:10 PM
These are the little things that make gay people's lives that much more difficult.
Posted by: Jack! | Mar 29, 2007 3:59:24 PM
"Atkisson says the policy was not meant to target homosexuals. He says they were just trying to stop two single people from being in the same bed."
_______________
Oh is *that* all...
LOL! A true bedroom farce. This reminds me of a scene from 'Fawlty Towers' where Basil is furtively hanging around outside a bedroom trying to catch a single resident "at it"...
Posted by: atheist | Mar 29, 2007 4:33:14 PM
This is funny: http://www.affordablesuites.com/faqs.php
I wonder if the last question was posted recently in light of all this.... "Buddies" LOL
Posted by: Sparty | Mar 29, 2007 4:39:55 PM
Well, that clears that up! Thanks! (Still not sure what consistent enforcement refers to...)
Vaguely similar to the landscaping guy who refused gay clients in TX.
Posted by: anon | Mar 29, 2007 5:18:02 PM
Clearly, we are second class citizens. At least we don't have to sit at the back of the bus and we can drink from any water fountain.
Posted by: Norm | Mar 29, 2007 6:58:14 PM
NSC, can you post a link directly to the comments section? I see the "post a comment" link but it just goes to the bottom of the page.
Posted by: Jason | Mar 29, 2007 9:14:53 PM
This story is not news to me. A few years ago on my yearly trip to Myrtle Beach I stayed at BAR HARBOR. When I checked in, the night clerk (male) asked me if that was my "wife " in the car! I went on this trip with my best friend. I told him as he could plainly see through the window the occupant of my car was male. They harassed us all weekend with "security phone calls" wanting to know if we knew the people who were coming to visit our room (we did) etc. etc. I checked a few years later to see if BAR HARBOR had gotten any better and was booking a reservation BY PHONE when I was asked if the two adults staying were both going to be male. I stated yes and was flat out refused a reservation. The clerk stated that they did not rent rooms to two people of the same sex. period. This story has a happy ending though. The next time I went to Myrtle Beach, I was pleased to walk by BAR HARBOR and note that the hurricane that had just went through before my trip down had done some damage to Homophobe BAR HARBOR. HMMMMMMMMMMM. Maybe the hurricane was denied a room? Laughed all the way down the street about that hate-filled place getting banged up.
Posted by: michael | Mar 31, 2007 7:46:04 AM