I guess it's not just swimming pools that kick people out because of their minority status. A controversy is brewing in El Paso, Texas after 5 gay men were kicked out of a Chico's Tacos because two of them shared a kiss.
The men were told to leave by a security guard who said "we don't permit doing gay things here." The 5 men called the police, expecting their help but were told that homosexual activity is Illegal, citing sodomy laws that were ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court years ago!
The police were dead wrong. In fact, they were so wrong they were violating three laws! Aside from the ban on sodomy laws, In 2003 El Paso passed a law making discrimination based on sexual orientation illegal and the Supreme Court has said that places of "public accommodation" cannot eject customers based on discrimination.
The good news is that city officials are being very responsive and tough on the police and the restaurant, so there's hope after all!
Can't two men just eat a taco and kiss in peace…
– Andy
I’m from El Paso, and the story is more detailed than that. While waiting for police to arrive, security at the restaurant continued to use anti-gay slurs. The police were also in trouble for threatening the 5 with a “homosexual-citation.” check out the link here, too.
http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_12790543
no kiddin like whats the problem they were’nt kissing the security gaurd or the cops but i think we know how most straight guys are they hate us till they get drunk then they try to kiss us we say no and they call us a fag who really makes problems?
How sad. When I was 19 or 20, and in college in NM half an hour north, we used to spend all night dancing at the OP (Old Plantation), and then head to Chico’s Tacos for soemthing to slow down the drunkenness for our ride home. We NEVER had problems there. It’s too bad. I have really great memories of those times (even if El Paso is not a great gay mecca).
hey, keep the kissing at home. homo, hetero, whatever.
Depends on the kissing. Sometimes it can be a little gross to watch if tongue gets involved, but there’s nothing wrong with merely showing affection in public!
El Paso, Woot!