老澳门开奖结果

Inn鈥檚 Policy of Refusing to Host 鈥楪ay Receptions鈥� Violates State Law

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: (212) 549-2666; media@aclu.org

MONTPELIER, Vt. 鈥� The 老澳门开奖结果 and the 老澳门开奖结果 of Vermont filed a lawsuit today against a Vermont resort that refused to host a lesbian couple鈥檚 wedding reception due to the owners鈥� personal bias against lesbian and gay people. Vermont law prohibits denying access to public accommodations based on sexual orientation.

Kate Baker and Ming Linsley of New York wished to hold their wedding ceremony at a Buddhist retreat in Vermont and have their reception at a nearby inn. Linsley鈥檚 mother, Channie Peters, contacted the Vermont Convention Bureau to locate a facility and received information on the Wildflower Inn. The 24-room inn described itself as an award-winning resort and an ideal destination-wedding location. Baker and Ming were excited about holding the reception there, but when the events manager learned that the reception was for a lesbian couple, Peters was told that due to the innkeepers鈥� 鈥減ersonal feelings,鈥� the inn does not host 鈥済ay receptions.鈥�

鈥淚 had been so excited to help plan my only daughter鈥檚 wedding reception, so when the Wildflower Inn told me that my daughter wasn鈥檛 welcome there, it was like being kicked in the stomach,鈥� said Peters. 鈥淪omeone who didn鈥檛 even know us was telling me that my daughter wasn鈥檛 good enough to have her reception at their facility while everyone else who sees the resort鈥檚 website is welcome.鈥�

The Vermont Fair Housing and Public Accommodations Act explicitly prohibits any public accommodations from denying goods and services based on customers鈥� sexual orientation. The law applies to inns, restaurants, schools, stores and any other business that serves the general public. The act contains exceptions for religious organizations and small inns with five or fewer rooms; the Wildflower Inn fits neither category. The inn is a multimillion-dollar public business whose slogan is 鈥淔our Seasons for Everyone!鈥�

鈥淚 was completely surprised when I was told that the resort had a 鈥榥o gay reception鈥� policy,鈥� said Baker. 鈥淲e wanted to celebrate our marriage with our loved ones in a beautiful country setting, and it never crossed my mind that a resort that is open to the public would discriminate against us based on the owners鈥� personal feelings about LGBT people.鈥�

Although Peters was able to find an alternate location for her daughter鈥檚 reception, the experience was jarring to the women and their family.

鈥淭he discrimination from the Wildflower Inn cast a shadow on what should have been a purely joyous occasion,鈥� said Linsley. 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 want to stay quiet and allow this business to continue to discriminate against other couples.鈥�

鈥淭he law is clear that any business that provides a service to the public can鈥檛 pick and choose who they want to serve based on the customer鈥檚 race, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity鈥� said Joshua Block, staff attorney for the 老澳门开奖结果 Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Project. 鈥淚f we allow one group of people to be singled out and denied basic rights and service, we are violating the basic American values of justice and fairness for everyone.鈥�

More information on this case, including a video of the plaintiffs, can be seen here: