Airbnb says it is investigating one of its hosts following a message allegedly sent to a same-sex couple. The host is suspended pending the outcome of the investigation
Curtis Kimberlin Jr. and his partner Jonathan were looking to book a room in Dallas, Texas. They were disappointed when one of their choices responded negatively to their inquiry.
Kimberlin took to Twitter to post about the experience. He re-printed a screenshot of the exchange between his partner and the host.
Jonathan excitedly told the host, “My partner and I will be flying into town for a weekend wedding and we’re really excited. It’ll be my first time in Texas and my partner is from Dallas, so he’ll be showing me around.”
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He went on to detail their travel plans.
The host’s response was blunt: “So I’ll be hosting two men sleeping together… right?”
Love trying to book an @Airbnb with my bf in Dallas and having this be the first response to our booking. 🙃 pic.twitter.com/vVN9w1UW1P
— Curtis Kimberlin Jr (@ckimberlinjr) January 7, 2023
Kimberlin’s tweet was retweeted almost a thousand times. A user asked him if he could cancel the booking and Kimberlin responded, “He luckily denied us before we could cancel but it still doesn’t feel great.”
Airbnb swung into action.
“Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation has no place on Airbnb, and we take reports of violations of our nondiscrimination policy incredibly seriously,” a spokesperson told Travel Noire.
“We suspended this listing and host from the platform as we investigate further, and we have reached out to our impacted guests to offer our support,” it added.
Related: “Pleasure Captain” asks internet to help pay for damage done to Airbnb during 11 man sex bender
Others offer support to couple
Others to respond to Kimberlin’s Tweet was the hotel brand Hilton, who offered to help the couple.
Curtis – if you and your partner still need help with a stay, we got you! Please meet us in the DMs! 🫶
— Hilton (@Hilton) January 9, 2023
In recent years, Airbnb has instigated a strongly-worded non-discrimination policy, and all users must agree to abide by it before using the platform.
However, a few bad apples still clearly slip through the net. On Twitter, others shared similar stories.
I once got a listing removed from Airbnb because they said they wouldn’t allow same sex couples in the description.. insane that they could even post that in the first place but glad Airbnb did the right thing by removing it.
— Maddie Dunne (@MadeleineDunne) January 8, 2023
I’ve had a lot of AirBnB hosts cancel as soon as they realise the booking is for two guys 🤷🏻♂️
— Vagabond Mike 😎 (@hobbitshollow) January 9, 2023
Other Airbnbs hosts came forward to offer their accommodations, while some users suggested the couple check out Misterb&b (a specifically LGBTQ-friendly accommodation platform) instead.
Related: Texan mess Greg Abbott is getting lit up online for his latest bout of hypocrisy
bachy
Does anyone here have experience with Air BnB? I’m investigating using it for a trip to South America. Is it true they tend to be more – or less – expensive than a hotel stay?
MikeM
I’ve only had positive experiences with them. I have stayed in London and D.C. and both places were in good locations with everything you would need in the neighborhoods.
TGB
We booked a place in Buenos Aires several years ago. It was SO conveniently located, and the host was incredibly accommodating. We stayed there before and after a cruise to Antarctica, and she allowed us to store some of our belongings in a storage closet while we were away.
We’ve used them in the US and Europe as well. We had one issue with a deposit the host refused to refund, but 100% of the rest of our experience has been very positive.
Manmode69
Hubby and I have gone to Peru 5 times and always use Airbnb. From my experience we have always had an excellent time. The first time we rented a penthouse apt with 3 bedrooms and took our family, (he is Peruvian. We did a three week vacation for only 105.00 per night for a Beautiful Penthouse, a stones throw away from the Ocean on Malecon Balta, Lima, Peru
Bonerboy
I am in London twice a year for three months at a time. Each month I stay in a different Airbnb in a different neighborhood, so I have had dozens (well, maybe 2 dozen) Airbnb experiences (and two in Ireland) and have had different situations, a couple negative somewhat (but never to the point of me having to leave) but most have been wonderful.
abfab
Can Texas get any more disgusting.
jerjn
I live in Irving, Texas. The answer to your question is, unfortunately, Yes. I’ve lived here 33 years, and have become numb to the pace of decent into cruelty and myopia. ?
scotty
oh yes. yes they can. and will. and do so continually lowering the bottom of the barrel.
JJinAus
@jerjn. Seriously, why do you live there? Before you ask, I moved countries.
Man About Town
I don’t quite understand why the man’s name has been blurred out (and also not mentioned in the piece). Are they worried about some kind of slanderous lawsuit, even though he’s clearly being discriminatory?
Mack
Look for the homeowner to complain to his local state representative and the state to pass a law giving them the right to do so on Airbnb. Then they will go after Airbnb for suspending the homeowner. The rightwing dipshits are vindictive against people who won’t permit hatred.
dwick
Airbnb can pull out of Texas then
scotty
a frustrated texan will not be found.
Fname Optional Lname
Why haven’t law suits exposed this type of bigotry in court>? If they are so concerned about their religious beliefs – whether it be a baker, a web designer or an Airhead BnB homophobe do they deny other “sinners” the service they provide? Of course they don’t! 75 years ago they tried to deny service to people of color and claimed they were adhering to the Bible and their “strongly held religious beliefs”. We are not screaming loud enough
Kangol2
It wasn’t 75 years ago it was as late the 60s and early 70s in some places in the US with denying service, and other forms of segregation–in housing, education, etc.–persisted even after that!
Now the new idea, which is actually an old one but growing again, is to use religion as a means to discriminate against LGBTQ people. You do realize the prior right-wing US Supreme Court has greenlighted religious discrimination, and seems set to go even further, because there are now 6 right-wing judges so they have no opposition.
We can sue all we want, but without strong anti-discrimination laws that truly shut down religious front-door and back-door discrimination and with the far right SCOTUS in place, it’s only going to keep expanding.
winemaker
This reminds me of the baker in Oregon who refused to bake a wedding cake for a couple of lesbians on the theory they don’t believe in same sex marriage under their religious beliefs. That said, why would anyone want to stay in a place that has a problem with who they sleep with? As long as their credit card is valid or their cash is green, who really cares? This should be a non issue especially in the 21st century. There are many other options and accommodations where this isn’t an problem so why not take your business where it’s valued and appreciated? Such a simple solution that avoids unnecessary BULLSHIT and drama, sheesh!
abfab
A call to action. Wake up, wino.
Osterfool
Stayed at many Airbnbs and I can’t remember ever having a negative experience. For those who haven’t used it before though, the platform only asks for the contact details of the person making the booking (as well as the number of additional adults and children who will be staying). I see in this case the customer voluntarily shared information about him and his partner to the host (which is completely fine) but for the most part, unless there’s issues, or you have questions, or the host manually checks you in (also rare)… you never really need to talk to them.
Watch… there’ll be a ChristianBnb starting up soon. For sure.
IvanPH
Stop using AirBNB and support hotels and motels instead.
Pgh bear
It’s been a couple years, but I found that some listings on misterbnb were listed at higher rates than the same listing on airbnb. Just check that you’re not getting bilked for a seller’s open mindedness
Godabed
it’s seems like there is a detail missing from the story. Because the initial response, what followed? Did the owner say he wouldn’t allow them to stay that, or was it just inferred after the first response?
Did they show any other text?