KENTUCKY – There is outrage in an eastern Kentucky city after two gay males were ejected from a city-owned pool. A maintenance technician told the couple and the group present, “We own this place and can tell you to leave if we want to.”
Staff at The Pavilion in the city of Hazard allegedly entered the pool area and asked the two gay men and their group to leave. The men asked The Pavilion staff why they were being ejected, and they were informed that “gay people” weren’t allowed to swim there. The men told the city employee that what he was trying to do was discrimination. The employee then stated that what he was doing was in the Bible and he could do it. Despite arguing with the man the men were ultimately forced to leave.
“This is completely outrageous. The Pavilion is owned by the city of Hazard and paid for by our tax dollars,” stated Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer. “Rest assured Kentucky Equality Federation will not tolerate discrimination in any form and our Southern Kentucky volunteer management, as well as our Discrimination, Hate Crimes and School Bullying Committee have planned a peaceful response.”
“The two gay males with developmental and intellectual disabilities were discriminated against by the staff of The Pavilion based on their sexual orientation,” added Kentucky Equality Federation Outreach Director Julia Oiler Spiegel.
“Not only was this an irreprehensible act by the staff, it was humiliating to these young men and their direct support staff.”
The Mayor of Hazard, Nan Gorman, has apologized for the incident and an investigation is underway. Gorman stated that the city had been flooded with protest calls from outraged people around the country.
Gorman said, “I’ve had people call from everywhere. You’d think we’ve had a murder scene up here, a massacre.”
