El Paso Times:
EL PASO -- Two gay men kissed at a Chico's Tacos restaurant, prompting guards to eject them and a police officer to endorse their ouster.
Civil-rights lawyers say the security staff was out of line. Police, though, contend that a business such as a restaurant can refuse service to anybody, any time.
Deborah Calla: The Magic Of Kissing
After remembering my own first kiss, I started to wonder how human beings found out about kissing. I mean how did the cave people know about French kissing even before there was a France?
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Doesn't the sign: "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason" cover the restaurant legally? I remember the scene in "Giant" when the diner owner pointed at the sign and then Rock Hudson knocked the cr#p out of him.
No, it doesn't allow them to use the N-word and kick people out for being black.
yes, but if they don't use epithets or are violent can they just refuse service like they did at Woolworth's?
rethugs drive like jimmy dean...
Wrong. The sign means nothing.
In 2003, the El Paso City Council passed a resolution which outrightly bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in all businesses open to the public.
thanks for that post. That is true of most major metros in the U.S.
The fact of the matter is that a proprietor of a business who witnesses something of an unacceptable sexual nature on his premises can remove the offender. The offender(s) can leave quietly, under their own steam-- or otherwise, but leave they will.
You aren't familiar with the law are you?
A kiss on the lips is no more sexual than a hug or a handshake. You don't get out much, do you?
Beelzebufo, the story talks about "a simple kiss on the lips". If a gay couple is thrown out for that, but a straight couple is not, then it is called discrimination.
These laws are there to protect gays from people like you, whether you personally approve or not. Get used to it, because you'll see a lot more guys kissing in public in the very near future.
And if you, or anyone else you know puts their hands on someone simply because they're expressing affection for their partner, you will go directly to jail, no questions asked, and likely be charged with a h aTe cr-i-me.
repeating it doesn't make it true, or right.
Let's see, Giant was made in 1956. NOT 2009. In 1956, it was still legal for a restaurant to post signs saying "Whites only." In 1956, there were still Jim Crow laws on the books. In 1956, people were still being lynched. In 1956, there were no civil rights laws. In 1956, a sign like that would protect a business owner. THIS IS NOT 1956. It's 2009. Under the logic presented by the cops, this restaurant has the right to refuse to serve blacks, latinos, redheads, Jews, etc. There is a much larger issue at stake here where the police are aiding and abetting breaking local laws and ordinances as well as acting in opposition to Supreme Court rulings. The officers should be fired. The private security company Chico's should be put out of business.
I KNEW someone would reference "Giant." Ha! The irony, of course, is that it's 2009, and yet Rock Hudson would still get kicked out of Chico's for kissing his boyfriend.
Well, this has been a lively discussion, as usual, but now that this thread contains threats of vi0lence and intimidattion from one "cornellredneck", it's time to bid farewell.
Peace out.
why, the gop is allowed to have its national rep. post too...
Here's what you'll be missing out on if you boycott Chico's Tacos. Bon appetite!
http://en.
Redneck came in all guns a blazing.
Then ran out the backdoor.
Couldn't answer the question.
Can't say I'm surprised.
I'm sure that's not all he does with the backdoor. You know what I'm sayin'?
Me thinks the lady do protesteth too much.
In college we used to get kicked out of restaurants all the time- too loud and disturbing the other diners. They would always point to the sign that said "we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone".
Maybe two kissing guys in Texas made the other diners unhappy and the owner decided a restaurant full of happy diners is better for the bottom line than a couple of guys smooching -
What is the big story here?
the civil war is over, get over it ur self...
who is "dawho" ?
The story here is that you can't throw people out of your restaurant because they are gay. If you saw a sign that said we reserve the right to shoot patrons in the head would you believe that too. Just because people say it doesn't mean they have that right. If they had tossed the people for being loud, for being rude to the waitress, etc, they would be fine. But in the US you don't get to throw people out of places because they are gay. Read the whole story.
J
how did the guard know they were gay? sounds like they threw them out because they were disturbing the other diners - - -
This is outrageous! If we start letting gay men kiss, what's next? People will be kissing the mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, uncles, children. Gasp! Some may even start kissing their dogs.
...what's wrong with hill billy love?
Cosign.
I am not a big fan of the whole LGTB agenda - but what ever you do behind closed doors is your deal.
That said, I think it is a pretty big jump to go from man love to the whole dog thing. No studies have shown than man love is a gateway activity to you know what - right?
I don't know. If you let boys kiss that will lead to people kissing more than one person. It'll be anarchy.
I think there's a lot of assumption here generally that all kisses are somehow sexual.... When someone says of a straight couple, 'They kissed at the restaurant,' no one assumes they were being overtly sexual or lewd about it.
Dude...it'
Ask Sen Rick Santorum. He actually said that on the floor on the US Senate. Nice.
I'm probably not a fan of your "whole agenda". I probably h a te you. But I don't think my dislike of your life should be written into the law, or anyone should be allowed to deny you service because of it.
See the difference?
frenh ..lip to lip kissing ? two bearded dudes? yuck !
yum... Oh my God! I caught the gay. See what happens.
uh no. a peck on the lips was what happened.
What a blind man does w/his dog is no body's business in Florida, I kid you not.
If you don't like watching gay pride parades. . . Don't go! If you want your gay behavior to be accepted while eating a taco. . . then don't go to Chico's! The cop saying its illegal to kiss, goes a little to far. NExt subject.
If we have to put up with your behavior, we have to put up with everyones. What part of this do you not understand ? If Americans weren't so sexually immature and culturally stupid they would realize that one man kissing another man is an expression of human affection. NEXT subject.
"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other" - Mother Teresa
The biggest threat to our national welfare, security, and prosperity is ambivalence or outright hatred of our fellowman. I hope someday soon those who speak hatred in the face of love will recognize gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Americans for who we truly are: your children, your sisters and brothers, your friends, your coworkers, and, when justice prevails, your equals.
Mother Theresa would of let this roll off her shoulders, then she would consoled these flaming instigators in private to be more considerate of others.
and ur the virgen de guadalupe right...
Good points but many who are gay ...at least here at huffpost..
And, I suppose, like you, not have noticed the guy threatening to crack gay skulls, while complaining it's 'intolerant' to call him a homophobe?
"Flaming"? They were on fire? Please clarify, because it seems you were showing some raw hatred there.
You don't speak for Mother Theresa, charlatan.
you are already our equals - who you decide to sleep with is your own business - go have fun if that is your deal. Just use a little judgement like the rest of us and consider the feelings of those around you.
I don't see too many parades promoting the hetro lifestyle, why the need to march to promote the alternative lifestyle ? Maybe the GLBT americans need to learn to be more tolerant of the hetro americans ?
Seems this is too much of a mind boggling concept for GLBT's to cope with.
Is ignorance as sublime as they say it is? Pride parades are not meant to promote an alternative lifestyle, they're meant to celebrate our culture. The same is true for the Puerto Rican Pride parade, for St. Patrick's day parades, etc. And I have to contend that those who practice intolerance against the gay community are the ones who need to heed your advice and "consider the feelings of those around you".
"I don't see too many parades promoting the hetro lifestyle, why the need to march to promote the alternative lifestyle ?"
I don't see too many restaurants asking heterosexuals to leave because of "a simple kiss on the lips". THAT is why the need to march to promote "the alternative lifestyle" (EQUAL RIGHTS).
Maybe they should have let them do it and charge a small admission to the show.
and what, have ur kids miss bed time, again..
It's been very interesting here how the homophobes have all come out in droves to insist how a discrimination and hatred they claim doesn't exist ...is of course completely justifiable.
I suggest all these homophobes, (I'm sure you're all just so happily-partnered with a heterosexual partner, and are just brimming over with affection) ...actuall
Shouldn't the response to *anyone* giving someone a kiss in public be, 'Aww, isn't that sweet, they're in love?'
It's astounding how much *utter revulsion* certain types show about the mere prospect of seeing simple human affection.
Name calling again? Do you really think you get points for it?
Funny how some will take the side of people using slurs against gays, then *sniff* Turn out to be *so sensitive* if those mean old PC people 'call them names.'
Poor dears.
It's more compelling than the absurd things you say, even on your best day.
whats with u sunnybeach
BOYCOTT CHICO'S... BOYCOTT EL PASO!
Actually, Don't boycott Chico's. Just go there with your same-sex partner, order a delicious order of tacos and chili sauce , hold your partner's hand while waiting for the order, and give him a simple kiss on the lips.
This action is protected by the local law.
Actually, the best first action would be to go there with your opposite sex partner and order some greasy tacos and kiss to see how Chico's management reacts. If they do nothing then bring on the LGBT kiss force.
Yes, and let the world know you are gay and in love. How touching.
ROTFLMAO!!!!
It wasn't the restaurant that kicked them out. It was the idiot uneducated rent-a-cop who did. Then the uneducated actual cop made it worse. I think the real problem here wasn't the restaurant but the fact that in EP, people who shouldn't even own a fish are given positions of authority over other people.
Seriously I didn't even know Chico's still exist
I wouldn't want to see two queers swapping spit over my steak dinner either.
It is interesting to note that in terms of same sex marriage whenever it was to be decided by the electorate it has never passed. It has been by either judicial Fiat or legislative action. Not illegal but defitnitly taken out of the electorate's direct control. Interesting.
Just a matter of time before gays achieve full and equal civil rights. Most civilized countries provide this for all their citizens.
..just a matter of time is correct...
are from small town areas ......(sma
come in contact with a diverse population
Adrian, America is a civilized nation. But, she have a lot of uncivilized folks living within her borders.
What's really interesting is something called the "Tyranny of the Majority." You should read about that concept.
A concept that many seemed to have forgotten. The "Federalist Papers" (Madison) - required reading in Law School.
Well, it's more like when the anti-gay agendas don't get their way through usual means, they try to bypass the Constitution.
I think with more exposure to gay couples through film, television, books, magazines, the people will stop reacting with fear. They will realize there is no threat in a gay couples any more than there is a threat with heterosexual couples.
They will start challenging their indoctrinations and ignorance. Soon, they will see that denying the same rights to gays that they allow to heterosexuals is just not right.
At least, with more exposure, the bigots have a hard time hiding their bigotry. The more rights that minorities receive the louder the bigots yell. And the more it is apparent that the problem is just plain bigotry, not "family values". Look at the "family values" of these hypocrits.
The actions of the cop and the security guards is similar to and of the same class of act as that used in this nation to deny service to people of color. Civil rights apply to all Americans under the equal protection clause of the Constitution, even in El Paso, Texas.
Groan, not another feeble attempt to equate immorality with civil rights.
African American community of California decisively repudiated this attempt to right piggy back ( no pun intended ) on this argument. Look at Prop 8 demographics.
And the African American community does not define civil rights or the scope of equal protection under the Constitution mor0n.
Hile!
To californialove, It's a very good thing, the younger generation does not feel the same way you do. Your outdated, bigoted ideals are not the majority thinking of younger people. Your sad, tired, hate will die out, and with it, the bigoted churches that spew the same crap you are. The self hating, closeted preachers of some of them, will go along with you. More and more, we all know and love gay people in our families and lives. The hate will eventually stop.
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First Posted: 07- 9-09 11:21 PM | Updated: 08- 9-09 05:12 AM