Gay Rights Supporters Rally In Kentucky After Gay Men Forced To Leave Public Pool (VIDEO)

Gay rights supporters rallied on Saturday in Kentucky after two gay men with disabilities were allegedly forced to leave a city-owned pool, according to multiple reports.

Local station WKYT reports:

In a report released by the city [of Hazard], a lifeguard at the Pavilion alleges the men were repeatedly hugging and kissing. Facility officials say this is inappropriate for both heterosexual and homosexual couples.

However, the Kentucky Equality Federation says the men were only sitting on each other's laps, and they were discriminated against.

Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer said the pair "left the facility crying," according to the Associated Press.

"You don't treat people that way, especially someone that is developmentally challenged," he said. "I'm so appalled by that I can't put it into words."

According to the Lexington Herald-Leader, Kim Haynes, an employee of the city, cited the Bible in asking the men to leave the public facility. A release issued by the City of Hazard following the incident indicates that Haynes' actions resulted in a five-day unpaid suspension from work. (See full text of the release below.)

Hazard Mayor Nan Gorman apologized for the situation that unfolded.

"I've had people call from everywhere," she said in addressing the matter last week. "You'd think we've had a murder scene up here, a massacre. ... We're all aware of tolerance here. We're not completely shadowed here by the mountains."

Below, a video report released by WKYT over the weekend on the controversy.

WATCH:

Hazard, Kentucky Letter

Comments

[Norcal2]

04:07 PM on 07/01/2011

Good grief...is this the United States we are talking about?

What a cruel way to treat these individuals...says a lot about the place where it happened.

[jon7485]

10:15 AM on 06/26/2011

Hmm.. developmentally disabled AND gay? Are we sure one of them wasn't a republican senator?

[Bobbi2664]

10:22 PM on 06/23/2011

I have a good friend that lives in Ky.He was part of a protest in support of the 2young men this past saturday. About 100 people showed up in support of the men.But only 6 in support of the pool staff.what makes this so appaling is the fact these men who may be or not be gay are devlopementy disabled which makes the story so horrible.Is this 2011 or 1911? To use a book to justify your fear/predjudice what have you.In my opinion shows that you need to get a grip what 2 people do with each other or in their lives has nothing to do with u.

[cminca]

03:57 PM on 06/22/2011

I've had the opportunity to be around developmentally disabled people--and many of them are demonstrably friendly. Maybe these guys are gay. Maybe they aren't. Maybe they were exhibiting an unconsious friendliness that our society has managed push underground.

The idea that these two people left--in tears--feeling more "outside" the norm than they normally do makes me so sad and angry.

[schildpad]

06:27 AM on 06/21/2011

Some people will never accept the fact that the US isn't a theocracy.

[2pence]

06:22 AM on 06/21/2011

I know Hazard Ky, yes the mountains do shadow and echo everything straight from the Bible. Tolerance is generally not part of their vernacular.

[Ronaldus Magnus]

05:16 AM on 06/21/2011

'A lifeguard at the Pavilion alleges the men were repeatedly hugging and kissing.'

Kids do not need to be seeing that. The lifeguard did the right thing.

[schildpad]

06:28 AM on 06/21/2011

Learn to read: "alleges", and another person said they were doing no such thing.

[Ioan Lightoller]

07:02 AM on 06/21/2011

The whole world does not need to revolve around YOUR prejudices.

[MichaelRCooke]

02:48 AM on 06/21/2011

Public displays of affection are something people regularly disagree over and have differing levels of tolerance for, but it is true generally that there's far less tolerance for homosexual 'pda' than heterosexual.

In this instance however it seems as if there was no PDA beyond that of supportive friends who may have been gay. So sad.

[sextonfan]

12:38 AM on 06/21/2011

Sad. They were just enjoying their day together. One of them sat on the other's lap. They were probably smiling and talking happily. Until the jacka&% lifeguard had to come and ruin their afternoon. Why are people such jerks?

If they were heterosexual, he probably wouldn't have batted an eye.

[Ronaldus Magnus]

06:17 AM on 06/21/2011

You don't want govt in your bedroom, so keep your bed away from public swimming pools.

[Ioan Lightoller]

07:04 AM on 06/21/2011

Quit acting like it was sex. It wasn't. Sorry you have so many issues with even the tiniest display of affection on the part of same sex people. Your prudery is no reason for everyone ( or even just everyone gay) to stop living.

[Peter Cullen]

11:56 PM on 06/20/2011

Young man, there's no need to feel down.
I said, young man, pick yourself off the ground.
I said, young man, 'cause you're in a new town
There's no need to be unhappy.

[joemondo]

11:23 PM on 06/20/2011

I wouldn't live in Kentucky for anything.

[Mike Ritter]

12:14 AM on 06/21/2011

Hey, they have that nut case Rand Paul... what do you expect... Many there live in the 19th centuary...

[Ronaldus Magnus]

06:20 AM on 06/21/2011

We in Kentucky can spell century. Maybe you need to come here for some tutoring.

[Ronaldus Magnus]

06:19 AM on 06/21/2011

I live in the great Commonwealth of Kentucky. I have also lived in Italy, South Korea, Germany, New Mexico, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. I prefer Kentucky way above any of the other locations. This is God's country!

[Ioan Lightoller]

07:05 AM on 06/21/2011

Harassing developmentally disabled people and making them cry is God's Work in your book?! Makes me glad that I am a Pagan.

[joemondo]

09:30 AM on 06/21/2011

My condolences.

[Rachel Custer]

11:19 PM on 06/20/2011

I wouldn't have wanted my kids to see a display like that. If this is about what one does in "his own bedroom," then keep it there.

[Mike Ritter]

12:16 AM on 06/21/2011

Keep your head in the sand!! And the idiot worker citing the bible... the greatest book of fiction ever written....

[Ioan Lightoller]

02:19 AM on 06/21/2011

Keep your religious bigotry and anti-gay dislike to yourselves. I see worse from straights all the time.

[hsspringman]

11:19 PM on 06/20/2011

I was once based at Fort Knox, KY. and our common name for Kentucky was/is Klantucky, seems the name still fits in the 21st century. With the states initials be KY you would think that they would be more open. :-)

[Ioan Lightoller]

02:20 AM on 06/21/2011

Amen. I lived in Evansville, which is no gay paradise but most of the gay baiting came when idiot bigots would come from Kentucky--I used to check the license plates. But at least Indiana was north of Kentucky.

[European1919]

02:30 AM on 06/21/2011

Maybe they are. Just the public pool isn't.

[wonderYrednow]

02:58 AM on 06/21/2011

Sharing is caring.

[hsspringman]

03:08 AM on 06/21/2011

But you know the bathroom at the pool is.

[lhanderson86]

11:17 PM on 06/20/2011

What Would Jesus Do? Not kick disabled people out of a public place, no matter their sexual orientation.

Matthew 25:40 - Whatever you do to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you do to me.

[Rachel Custer]

11:00 PM on 06/20/2011

I wouldn't want my kids seeing two men making out in a public pool. It's inappropriate at the very least.

[notakochdealer]

11:23 PM on 06/20/2011

Omg Rachel but its fine for kids to see Viagra commercials on Nickelodeon?

[Rachel Custer]

11:34 PM on 06/20/2011

I don't recall commenting on Viagra commercials on Nickelodeon.

[notakochdealer]

12:14 AM on 06/21/2011

Keep watching you;ll see.

[Ioan Lightoller]

02:22 AM on 06/21/2011

I don't want to see your straight lifestyle flashed in my face 24/7 but I have no choice. It's the price I pay for living in society. Sorry your sensibilities are so delicate. I'd rather see two men kiss than kill one another.

[European1919]

02:47 AM on 06/21/2011

But that is not "the American way". Ever since the hippies and their demonstrations against the Vietnam war the average American seems not to have understood Make Love Not War.

[wonderYrednow]

03:01 AM on 06/21/2011

I'm gonna have to go with you on that.... butt I'm still rooting for two girls. Mud, maybe?