DOUCHE OF THE WEEK

Biblical Christian Refuses To Rent Banquet Hall To Lesbian Couple

Each week, Queerty picks one blowhard, hypocrite, airhead, sanctimonious prick or other enemy of all that is queer to be the Douche of the Week. 

Have a nominee for DOTW? E-mail it to us at [email protected].

A Queerty reader from Moline, IL, clued us into a sad story from his hometown: A lesbian couple was denied the right to rent a reception hall for their wedding because a staffer said she didn’t “believe in homosexual marriage.”

Didn’t believe in it? Like it doesn’t exist, or you just don’t like it?

Kristen Stewart (no, not that Kristen Stewart) told Taylor Shumaker to look elsewhere for a space to hold her event, because the University Club in downtown Moline didn’t rent to queers.

Shumaker says she called the University Club on Tuesday to inquire about the place. Bar Manager Kristen Stewart offered to give Shumaker a tour and asked if her fiance would be coming.

”And she asked if ‘he’ would be coming and I just said no, it’s not actually a ‘he.’ It’s a ‘she,’ and she said excuse me?” recounted Shumaker.

”I said, it’s a woman, and she said oh, we don’t rent to homosexual couples.”

Shumaker told WQAD Channel 8 that she wouldn’t have bothered calling the historic club if she knew that was the policy. “If it would have been on the website from the very beginning, I wouldn’t have wasted my time.”

For her part, Stewart told the network that, “as a biblical Christian, I cannot help them into or celebrate that sin.”

Except the Illinois Human Rights Act bans discrimination based on sexual orientation, so Stewart had no legal right to turn Shumaker away.

Turns out she didn’t have the authority, either: Kristen’s husband, Perry, is actually the president of the University Club, and his parents are the owners. Kristen is just the bar manager. Mr. Stewart said this wife ”mis-spoke” and there’s no ban on same-sex ceremonies at the hall.

Mrs. Stewart admitted she and her husband don’t see eye-to-eye on the issue:

”My husband’s family does not hold the same view. If there is a homosexual couple I will pass them onto them. I have told him if they want to do homosexual receptions I would not have any part of that. He and his family have decided they will,” Stewart said.

Well, gee, Kristen, if your husband tells you he wants to do something, isn’t it your job to joyfully submit to him? Sees like as a biblical Christian, you should know that.

All together now: What a douche!

 

Don't forget to share:

Help make sure LGBTQ+ stories are being told...

We can't rely on mainstream media to tell our stories. That's why we don't lock Queerty articles behind a paywall. Will you support our mission with a contribution today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated