Did Rite-Aid Kick Out A Gay Couple For Hugging?
Washington, D.C. is actually a pretty gay-friendly place—hell, even a few closeted types seem to find a way to make a living there. (Just a few.) But in early October a gay couple was thrown out of a Rite-Aid a few blocks away from the city's traditional gay neighborhood for allegedly hugging each other in the store. According to them, while they were shopping, one of them hugged the other one from behind, and the store manager ran up and shouted, "Get out! Get out!" A few seconds later, the security guard told them they had to leave, although he said he didn't know the reason why. The manager, Denny Getachew, won't comment, and Rite Aid spokesperson told the local gay magazine, "We are looking into this matter, and we will take disciplinary action if need be."
This week, about 50 people staged a "hug-in" at the store, which we can only imagine melted the eyes of any anti-gay witnesses. This is why you don't let personal prejudices take control of you when you're the manager of a store—the response from those you treated unfairly is 50 times worse.
"Animus in the Aisles" [MetroWeekly] (thanks to Brian!)
RELATED
"Hugging it Out" [MetroWeekly]
"Rite Aid Hug-In a Success" [TheNewGay]
Fox News Coverage Of Hug-In [YouTube]
(Image: Fox 5 News, Washington, D.C.)
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Comments:
@AlteredBeast: Maybe to a certain extent, but if you mess with the bull, you're gonna get the horns.
@AlteredBeast: Actually technically they don't, if they're 'open to the public' the people who enter the space are protected by discrimination laws because the store could be deemed a public space. IANAL but I think that's how that works.
They "reserve the right" to refuse to serve, but they still have to do that within the law...they can say, get out you are a smelly drunk and are not going to spend any money, but they can't say get out you (racial/ethnic/religious/lifestyle) slur.
@VaMPKiSS1: Stores such as Rite-Aid are considered "Semi-public." So, a manager would have some legal right to kick people out for doing non-shopping related things. Like if a bunch of kids just came in and suddenly started playing Twister near the pharmacy. Especially if they were all dudes, I guess. And, maybe even if people just came in to hug? But yeah! I mean. . . I could imagine, say, two frisky teenagers being kicked out of a store for necking in the candy aisle -- especially if they're loitering around seeming like they're not going to buy anything. But just hugging -- yeah, there's no way this would have been a problem between a guy and a girl. However, unless the store has a non-discrimination policy, it's hard to pin down exactly what kind of official reprocussions he might face, if any. Loitering laws have been used against minorities many, many times in the past for stupid reasons.
Two men hugged...
@interocitor: I am willing to be that there is a diversity policy in place at Rite Aid. I wouldn't be surprised if the manager will be summarily fired in short order.
Two human males made physical contact…
…AND ANOTHER AMERICAN FAMILY IS DESTROYED!!
sorry, double post
well getting kicked out for being gay is one thing. getting kicked out for public display of affection is another. my point? how would the store owner know they were gay unless pda was involved. i'm not racist against gays, but that doesn't mean i want to watch you be gay either. if i kissed my wife in the store, he could do the same thing. not my fault that men/women relations are more excepted than gay ones.
I suspect that there's more to this story that we are not being told.
@legotech: Sure they can, most places. Gayness isn't a protected class. Race is a protected class, so you can't be kicked out for being black. If you're black and show affection in public, then the affection in public part is no longer protected, so out you go.
Manager being an asshole isn't the same thing as violating the law.
@G-Dog: assuming they'd otherwise each have a wife and child, then you'd have to say that two potential American families are destroyed. ;-)
Well, regardless, I think this manager is going to be regretting his decision to be an arsehole. That "hug-in" looks like it's generated a lot of negative press for his store.
@llcooljabe: I think that's likely the case. My guess is that they were over doing public affection quite a bit. That will get any couple kicked out, straight or not.
Yeah, their "hugging" excuse sounds as accurate as the "(in)appropriately dressed" girl who was flashing her panties on the airplane:
Before they were asked to leave, Hill says, ''I got behind him and was holding him.... We didn't make a scene or anything, and then the manager happened to walk by and see us holding each other and he did like a double take.''
Still doesn't sound bad, but "hugging" still doesn't sound accurate...
@Girtych: well if the store owner is a hardcore christian, i'm sure he could care less if gays shop at his stores.
also, there is no such thing as bad publicity. just publicity.
In answer to balthizar, sexual orientation is actually a protected class, at least in many jurisdictions, including Washington, DC. Thus, if the manager eject the couple due to their sexual orientation, he may be violating Washington DC law. Depending on the jurisdiction, violations of anti-discrimination ordinances are addressed by public action (the city investigates and fines the offender) and/or private action (the offended party is permitted to sue if they wish). Often times, a civil rights commission will work to arrange a settlement between the parties in order to avoid a lawsuit.
@INconsumer:
I am not taking either side of this story. I am not gay, and I am not a hardcore Christian
But apparently, the consensus on this board seems to think that expressing your right to be gay is to be tolerated more than expressing your right to not condone the lifestyle.
Re. the "type" of hugging: imagine a man standing behind a woman with his arms around her while she's looking at bottle of shampoo or something. It might or might not annoy you (it would annoy me because they're unnecessarily blocking my path in the aisle), but it probably wouldn't trigger your INAPPROPRIATE klaxon.
Now imagine that same image with two men. A lot more people, particularly those who are anti-gay, will have synaptic freakouts.
So yes, I think that what they were doing does count as hugging... at least it would if a straight couple did it.
@INconsumer: It's not the gay community's fault you can't differentiate your homophones. Accept, of course, the acceptions.
@Murph1908: i'm sure it will stay that way also. but i have to admit, as a consumer, i shouldn't be subjected to that (gay pda, or any pda) when i'm trying to shop. we can be tolerate all we want, but if gays went around kissing eachother in stores (i realize this article is about hugging) i think they would definatly get asked to leave.
@balthisar: Actually, in the District of Columbia sexual orientation is a protected class under the DC Human Rights Act.
YAY A HUG IN!!!
Maybe they were cold...
@INconsumer: I don't think anyone should be kicked out for kissing. Making out, perhaps, but not simple kissing. Gay, straight, transy whatever...
@Murph1908: Just because you don't condone the lifestyle does not give YOU the right to infringe on any other person's rights.
well i'm out. sorry for having a different opinion than the rest of you. i'll try to conform more next time.
I don't know exactly what the manager's reasons were, but I could see where he was coming from if he mistakenly thought he saw some kind of indecent exposure (it might have been easy to mistake in the position they were in).
Hey I am offended by people who refuse to control their spawn in stores. Can I get them thrown out? Please?
Two people hugging in a store, so what. At least it wasn't two people fighting.
@balthisar: "Gayness isn't a protect class" actually, sexual orientation is protected, beating up a guy because he is gay is not only assault/battery its a hate crime.
Cue Ralph Wiggum: "Everyone's hugging!!'
Geez, another company to add to my shit list. Looks like it's gonna be Walgreens for me from now on.
I've seen signs at restaurants and shops that say "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone".
It sucks that the manager at that Rite-Aid threw them out (was he afraid that the customers and employees would catch Teh Gay or something?) - I'm sure that people have been kicked out for worse and/or weirder reasons.
@G-Dog: Of course! We have to think of The Children (TM), can't have them seeing anything beyond what we want them to see ... lol
Speaking of children, bohemian: I second that idea. I have no problem with kids, but when the parents let them run about without paying any attention - that really gets under my skin!
In the context of discrimination laws a place like Rite-Aid, or any other store, restaurant, office, etc. open to the public, is referred to as a public accommodation. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the relevant legislation. It did not include sexual orientation (or gayness as some say).
However, the Civil Rights Act is a federal law. States, municipalities, and other jurisdictions are free to pass legislation that expands the protections required by federal law. Ergo, teh gay is a protected class in some places. The District of Columbia is one such place.
So, if the Rite-Aid manager had the individuals in question removed from the store because they were exhibiting "gay" but otherwise innocuous behavior then Rite-Aid violated these men's civil rights. As such, Rite-Aid can rightfully expect to get sued and a particular manager can expect to get fired or sent out for some training on how one properly operates a public accommodation.
@INconsumer: sorry for having a different opinion than the rest of you. i'll try to conform more next time.
Buh-bye...
"Denny Getachew"? That cannot possibly be the manager's real name.
@realjen01: and i only read the first one! i revise my statement...all of your posts are ridiculous on so many different levels!
@magic8ball:
sounds Ethiopian.
yoinks, if only this guy knew what (used to - allegedly!) happen in the showers of the WSC gym up the block.
@JiminyChristmas: Way to put it! I don't understand how anyone on this comment section can equate what the manager did as "logical". These are grown men. I'm sure they weren't making out, tongue and all, in the middle of a Rite Aid. Granted, it does seem a bit off the wall, but if this manager is in any way anti-gay or a homophobic, I would expect this kind of behavior. I hope they sue & win big.
well, as a gay-American, I'm not surprised that some people (glares at INsumer) can't tell the difference between SEX and AFFECTION, bu I'm still disappointed when it happens.
Obviously, the store manager was only trying to prevent other customers from catching "Teh Ghay."
(Yes, this is sarcasm).
So I wonder if the store manager would have flipped out if two straight guys had hugged?
Somebody is just a wee bit homophobic.
Does a store have a right to just kick anyone out for any reason? I would think they can, even if it is a stupid reason.