Lesbian couple ejected from mall meet with property managers (legal, activist, state)

[SunnyKayak]

A lesbian couple who say they were asked to leave a North Carolina shopping center after sharing a kiss and a hug met with the center's property manager on Saturday.

Lesbian couple ejected from mall meet with property managers - CNN.com

[hammertime33]

Unfortunately in the great state of North Carolina it's perfectly legal for a shopping mall, or a restaurant, or a hotel, or a gas station to kick out or refuse service to someone simply because he or she is gay.

[thenewtexan]

What's going to happen to the officer that asked them to leave? He should be fired. Without sounding like activist, from the manager's reaction, this clearly wasn't the protocol. He wasn't following procedure. Pure and simple. In these times, I'm sure there will be lots of non-bigots who will want his job.

[LuckyGem]

Breedlove is a gay activist, but she says the incident wasn't planned.

They were testing the waters and got the reaction they were looking for.

Typical.

[hammertime33]

Originally Posted by LuckyGem

The mall is private property. Not public. They have the right to boot anyone they want.

Not true.

[hammertime33]

Originally Posted by thenewtexan

What's going to happen to the officer that asked them to leave? He should be fired. Without sounding like activist, from the manager's reaction, this clearly wasn't the protocol. He wasn't following procedure. Pure and simple. In these times, I'm sure there will be lots of non-bigots who will want his job.

This is a somewhat old story. The security guard has been suspended, and the mall owner apologized to the lesbians.

[ergohead]

Sounds like the title of a porn movie.

[LuckyGem]

Originally Posted by hammertime33

Not true.

Yes they do. A shopping mall has the right to boot whoever they think will make an impact on security.

Gangs of rowdy teens for example - many malls have curfews against them.

If they thought the lesbians might be unsafe walking around because others in the mall might attack them.

They have a right to tell them to leave.

Anyhow, they were testing the waters to elicit a reaction, one they were expecting to get and they got it.

The gays gained another inch.

[hammertime33]

Originally Posted by LuckyGem

Yes they do.

No, they don't.

There are very specific laws (both at the federal level and specific to North Carolina) regarding who private businesses that accommodate the public are allowed to "throw out" and refuse service to. I can direct you to these laws if you're unfamiliar.

[expect]

She's ugly.