A Kentucky McDonald’s will be getting some very special – and angry – guests today.
Activists down in Louisville announced today that they plan on protesting two employees’ anti-gay actions this summer.
From the press release:
In July, five visitors were waiting for their food to be prepared at McDonald’s when an employee behind the counter referred to them as “faggots” to another employee. The visitors asked to speak with a manager. As they waited for the supervisor on duty, the employee who had called them “faggots” started arguing with them, repeatedly calling them “faggots” in front of other customers and calling one of them a “cocksucker” and “bitch.”
The supervisor on duty refused to refund the group’s purchase, and all attempts to solve the issue with McDonald’s managers and corporate offices have been ignored.
That incident no doubt pleases the American Family Association, which yesterday claimed victory in their own protest against McDonald’s, whom they accused of being in cahoots with the queers.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Full release after the jump…
What: ACLU of Kentucky, Fairness Campaign, UofL’s commonGround, Lambda Law Caucus, Office of LGBT Services and community members will gather this Friday to protest anti-gay discrimination by employees of a downtown Louisville McDonald’s restaurant.
Who: Ryan Marlatt and Teddy Eggers, two Indianapolis residents who were called “faggots” and other anti-gay slurs by a McDonald’s employee; Becca O’Neill, Lambda Law Caucus; Michael Aldridge, Executive Director, ACLU of Kentucky; Jeff Rodgers, Co-coordinator, Fairness Campaign; and other members of the LGBT community.
Where: McDonald’s, 420 E. Market St., downtown Louisville between Preston & Jackson Streets
When: 12 p.m., Friday, October 10, 2008
Why: In July, five visitors were waiting for their food to be prepared at McDonald’s when an employee behind the counter referred to them as “faggots” to another employee. The visitors asked to speak with a manager. As they waited for the supervisor on duty, the employee who had called them “faggots” started arguing with them, repeatedly calling them “faggots” in front of other customers and calling one of them a “cocksucker” and “bitch.” The supervisor on duty refused to refund the group’s purchase, and all attempts to solve the issue with McDonald’s managers and corporate offices have been ignored. A complaint has been filed with the Louisville Human Relations Commission.
We must take action to raise awareness that anti-gay discrimination continues and must be challenged. This incident further illustrates why Kentucky needs a statewide Fairness law.
fredo777
Son of a bitch.
I just bought something from McD’s yesterday. I’ll wait to see how these bstrds deal with this.
Someone
If only I could find that employee and shake his hand! I love that he was brave enough to stand up for what he believes!!!!
Mark
Hey, Someone, why don’t you instead shake my dick like your mama did last night?
Oh, and use a real name, coward-ass bitch.
ChicagoJimmy
I’m shocked they didn’t get their money back. As a former manager at McDonald’s I can tell you that it is corporate philosophy that customer complaints cost a lot more than whatever they ordered. The easiest way to diffuse this kind of situation would have been to give them their money back and let them leave.
Stupid manager for deciding that all this negative publicity was worth the 15 or 20 bucks these folks probably spent.
ChristopherM
I was there, carrying my sign that said “Homophobia Makes Me Grimace.” At one point, a truck driver coming out of the drive thru said we should come back every day because the management was giving food away to customers who came in in spite of the 50 people we had protesting out on the sidewalk.
FYI, this is a corporate-owned McDonald’s, not a franchise. I am still amazed that they are willing to put up with a human rights commission complaint, a protest, and footage on at least two news channels, all because they don’t want to refund three meals and say they are sorry they let their employee curse customers out.
ChicagoJimmy
That’s great! They’ll give food away to people who cross the picket line, but won’t refund the cost of 3 meals to customers who were harassed by their employees. Keep up the good work ChristopherM!
Amazing Grace
I am shocked that McDonald’s would make such a bad decision! Wow! Goes to show bigotry is even above greed! This explains why we had “whites only” buisnesses for so long. On a side note, just because non-discrimination is on the corporate books doesn’t mean that GLBT and employees of color are treated fairly and with dignity and respect all the time. Granted, non-discriminatory policies give employees more recourses, but bigots are not always ready to give us the due respect. I used to work for this multi-national company that includes domestic partnership policies and I met the CEO once. As soon as I told him that I was gay to answer his “wife and kids” question, his demeanor changed immediately. I was professional throughout the whole meeting. The way I see it: It’s their problem, not mine, let THEM deal with it! Don’t be fooled my friends-bigotry is alive and well! In most cases it is only hidden under a transparant veneer of two faced behavior.
Toron to
Imagine the ‘hue and cry’ if a McDee’s employee had used the N- word against the customers. There would be a nation-wide boycott…or likely McDee’s would have dealt with the situation appropriately and immediately. Of course a gay boycott wouldn’t have much impact since most of us avoid their fat-laden crap anyway. The best revenge is that the employee still works there, hopefully as a career-cashier.
DG
It amazes me how people can still have that kneejerk reaction to people of another color, gender, sexual preference, nationality, religion, etc. that causes them to think of them as “other.”
Like when McCain called Obama “That one” the other night at the debate.
Geez Louise. I need to stop overestimating the average IQ of my fellow US citizens because I only get headaches from it.
bill
Being that I was born and raised in KY. I’m not the least bit surprised this has happened. When I visit you should hear what they say about Obama. Glad their lives will be hell for at least 4 years when he wins!!!
Frank
Umm, McDonald’s sucks. Period.
They are there to collect your money. Not to make you happy.