The Law of Unintended Consequences

From Times Online:

Hoteliers chasing the pink tourist pound have joined criticism of a law outlawing discrimination against homosexuals.

The hotels, which cater for the thriving “exclusively gay” tourism market, say that they should be exempt from the Sexual Orientation Regulations as they will be forced to accept heterosexual guests.

Some say that a ban on “gay only” advertising could put them out of business.

There were also concerns that some heterosexual couples might be unhappy if they unwittingly booked into a gay hotel.

John Bellamy, who runs Hamilton Hall, in Bournemouth, described the new laws as “discrimination against gays”. He said: “We are a unique venue and we only admit gay and bisexual men. Under this law, we would go out of business. This so-called anti-discrimination law is actually discriminatory as it discriminates against gays.”

Another hotelier, Mark Hurst, co-owner of the exclusively gay Guyz hotel, in Blackpool, said that his gay clientele would feel uncomfortable mixing with straight customers.

Uncomfortable mixing?

Sounds like bigotry to me. Maybe it’s heterophobia?

Shut up. If a hetero said they’d be uncomfortable mixing with gays, we’d never hear the damn end of it. You run a business based on discrimination you idiot.

via PC Watch

[tags]discrimination, hypocrisy[/tags]

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  • http://www.futuregringo.com james

    As a gay person I really don’t have any thoughts on the “exclusivity” issue. I understand that a business wants to maintain a certain atmosphere and decorum, and having girls weekend at “Adam and Steve’s B&B” might change the ambiance, but then again that sort of changes the venue from a place of lodging to a private club with more control.

    But that said I’ve never really given it much thought as I don’t search these places out. When my partner and I see ads for Atlantis Gay Cruises we chuckle, as we couldn’t imagine spending an entire trip in a floating dance club.

    Also does this problem even exist? With the internet I can get an idea of a place in about six seconds. Add to that review boards and it’s fairly easy to see what type of place I’ll be staying at. I doubt a married couple looking for a romantic getaway would book a “males preferred” B&B, just as I’m not planning on sharing a room with my partner at the “Focus on the Family Mountain Hideaway”.

    james…

  • http://www.insignificantthoughts.com Vinny

    Well put, James. Gay hotels seem like a solution looking for a problem :-)

  • http://www.insignificantthoughts.com/ Vinny

    Well put, James. Gay hotels seem like a solution looking for a problem :-)

  • http://www.futuregringo.com/ james

    As a gay person I really don't have any thoughts on the “exclusivity” issue. I understand that a business wants to maintain a certain atmosphere and decorum, and having girls weekend at “Adam and Steve's B&B” might change the ambiance, but then again that sort of changes the venue from a place of lodging to a private club with more control.

    But that said I've never really given it much thought as I don't search these places out. When my partner and I see ads for Atlantis Gay Cruises we chuckle, as we couldn't imagine spending an entire trip in a floating dance club.

    Also does this problem even exist? With the internet I can get an idea of a place in about six seconds. Add to that review boards and it's fairly easy to see what type of place I'll be staying at. I doubt a married couple looking for a romantic getaway would book a “males preferred” B&B, just as I'm not planning on sharing a room with my partner at the “Focus on the Family Mountain Hideaway”.

    james…