WHAT KIND OF heartless human being would kick two developmentally disabled gay men out of a public pool--using the Bible as justification?
Apparently, a staff member at the Hazard Pavilion recreation center in Hazard, Ky.
According to Care2.com's Miranda Perry:
The two men, who are developmentally and intellectually disabled, arrived at the pool accompanied by staff from Mending Hearts Inc. The organization provides support for people with certain disabilities and helps guide their behavior in public. "Neither of these young men was exhibiting inappropriate public behavior as witnessed by their direct support staff," said Julia Oiler Spiegel of the Kentucky Equality Federation.
Shirlyn Perkins, Mending Hearts' Executive Director, told the Kentucky Equality Federation that "Pavilion staff immediately entered the pool area and asked my clients and their staff to leave the Pavilion."
"My staff asked the Pavilion staff why they were being asked to leave, and they were informed that 'gay people' weren't allowed to swim there. [They] told this man that what he was trying to do was discrimination," Perkins continued. "The man stated that what he was doing was in the Bible and he could do it. My staff continued to argue with this man, but was ultimately forced to leave."
The Kentucky Equality Federation called the incident "completely outrageous." "The Pavilion is owned by the City of Hazard and paid for by our tax dollars," said Jordan Palmer, the organization's president. "[Religion] has no place in government." The Advocate reports that Palmer's group and others are planning to protest at the Pavilion and Hazard City Hall.
"My clients, whom already feel ridiculed and different, left the city-owned facility crying and embarrassed for trying to participate in 'normal' activities that everyday 'normal' people do," Perkins said of the incident.
Thankfully, the incident has sparked outraged--with Hazard Mayor Nan Gorman telling reporters that she's sorry about the incident and that the city has a strict anti-discrimination policy.
The Kentucky Equality Federation is planning a public rally for Saturday, June 18, at 2 p.m. at the Hazard Pavilion Pool.
