Ryan Marlatt and Ryan Teddy Eggers were visiting McDonalds in Louisville, Kentucky with a few friends on July 26th when they were harassed by employees. They were called “faggots” and “cocksuckers” by several of the employees and management failed to do even issue them a simple refund. The guys took their case to the ALCU and are filing an official complaint with the city.
“Although their complaints have gone unanswered by McDonald’s, Louisville has a law that protects people from this kind of treatment from any business,” said Christine Sun, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU. Earlier this month, an HIV+ man sued an Iowa McDonald’s for firing him because of his status.
ChristopherM
1. Costumers? You mean professionals put together those outfits?
2. Seriously, what is the source here? I’d like to know which McD’s it is since I live here in Louisville.
dd_in_sf
Mayor McCheese was not crowned by a heterosexual for god’s sake. He was appointed by Ronald McDonald. Staff should show some respect. Al I would have said was “nice hair net, Mary.” Touche.
todd
McNasty!!!
tallskin
I hope they sue the bastard homophobes and win a lot of money
ryandavis
The McDonald’s was on East Market Street. The ACLU Release is linked in the article.
ChristopherM
Duh, I should have clicked! Thanks for pointing out the obvious that I was oblivious to! 🙂
That McDonalds is next door to a gay bar, Tryangles. They ought to be used to plenty of gay customers.
Amber LeMay
I’ve never understood why, when people want to degrade someone, they call them cocksuckers… If you have a cock, don’t you want someone to suck it? Therefore, that person would be a nice person, or someone you would want to endear.
Now, if I wanted to call someone a bad name, I think cockBITER would be a better term to use. For if one were a cockBITER, that would not be a good thing.
Jaroslaw
Sorry Amber, my mouth was full, what did you say?
Chuck
First fattening food, now this. McDonalds is now officially one of the gay community’s worst enemies.
Charles J. Mueller
This is very odd, especially in view of the fact that McDonald’s recently donated $20,000 to the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)
John
Everytime I see one of these lovely “heartland values” stories, I thank the Lord for the existence of the blue states.
God Bless You, Coastal Elitists!
Mr C
Kentucky,
Might be Blue Grass….But still the DAMN RED STATE SOUTH.
I’m not surprised!
A DAMN SHAME!
John
As a member of the coastal elite, and not the poster who has taken on the John screenname (you know who you are #11), I hope they sue the pants off this business. In-n-Out has better food, also.
jodygreeneyes
First of all you guys should know that Lousiville is an INCREDIBLE City and a great place to live. I live in NYC and was doing a play at Actor’s Theatre of Louisville…one of the most important theaters in the country…. last year, and had problems with this exact McDonald.s It wasn’t an issue of being harrassed, just terrible customer service from a bunch of kids and managers who do not give a damn. I think stupidity reigns freely in this particular restaurant and McDonalds should look into the management as well as the employees.
Madam HoVery
I don’t think it is so much the McDonald’s Corp. as it is the employees in that store. Some work places foster such bigotry because the so called “managers” are homophobes. So the employees think it is okay! By the way many of the chain restaurants are owned by franchisees. So the two Ryans(?) should sue not just the McDonalds corp., for extra measure, but primarily that particular store owner. Chances are that the owner hinself is a effing bigot and allows such behavior. Hurt where it hurts the most–their handbags! You heard right–I said handbags! You know those homophobes are nothing but big old queens who are dying to put on a dress. Anybody check out Craigslist lately? How many of them are so called straight married men? That’s right, my point exactly!
paul-e-wog
Disturbing as this story is, I’m just glad for once it didn’t take place in Texas.
Snoodle
Awful for the company…considering as was mentioned above I believe, they are infact quite the supporters of the LGBT community. I hope all the employees that participated are fired along with the less-than-active management.
john
I quit going to this particular McDonald’s on E. Market St. because the service was awful and the food took on a nasty life of its own. I made calls to headquarters more than once about their lack of good customer service. When I did patronize the place, I had to remind its employees to thank me for buying their ill prepared food. Louisville is a great place and shouldn’t be unfairly labeled because of this one place of business. Most McDonalds and other eateries in our city are efficiant and welcoming regardless of the customer’s orientation.
ernest
Ditto no. 6; that store is right in the pink triangle, the area of downtown the gay boys keep busy all Friday and Saturday night. I’m sure more than a few of us have tramped the place up from time to time but that’s no excuse for management not even trying to do something. If they don’t want my business they’ll never get it again.
ChristopherM
I just want to echo the things others on here have said about Louisville. Just because Louisville is IN Kentucky does not mean it is OF Kentucky. I would never live in the rest of the state, but it is as progressive here as any other large city in the country, and probably far friendlier.
jodygreeneyes
I hope you did not misunderstand me….I grew up in Kentucky and although it has its fault, like every place, I still am proud of where I come from. Let’s challenge bad behavior on a individual basis and not lump huge areas together as one….I certainly hope to have that courtesy in my life.
Jaroslaw
In theory, greeneyes, you are right. In practice it seems any number of polls show southerners way behind in acceptance of same sex marriage etc. Not exactly a surprise from a part of the country that didn’t think black people were even people until 1967 (I’m referring to the Loving interracial marriage decision)
mark
This story is also over at Pam’s house blend and gives the address
restaurant on East Market Street on July 26, 2008
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=7034
btw. I wrote McDonald’s corporate, copy of letter at the link
scott
ummm. It’s McDonald’s. Really, that restaurant (and I loose that term loosely) should be a last resort situation. Just saying.
And yeah, all gays in that neighborhood should boycott that place (but really, there has to be a coffee shop/diner around that you guys can patronize, right?)
Trenton
That’s not what I call a Happy Meal. 🙁