Submitted by ONE Community on February 28, 2012 - 6:57pm
Representatives of the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel on Tuesday met with a lesbian couple that was asked to leave a hotel restaurant on Sunday after they were seen hugging and kissing. The move quickly sparked a firestorm on social media sites.
"We had the opportunity to meet with the couple late (Tuesday) to listen to their story and better understand their view and how they felt," wrote hotel general manager Leo Percopo in a prepared statement released Tuesday evening.
"We had a collaborative conversation and both parties are taking this incident seriously. Together, we have identified opportunities in which both parties can unite and work together to foster diversity awareness," he said. Read more »
Submitted by ONE Community on February 28, 2012 - 4:28pm
Phoenix, AZ - A lesbian couple claims they are victims of discrimination after allegedly being asked to leave a Phoenix restaurant Sunday. Kenyata White and Aimmee Diaz were celebrating their one-year anniversary Sunday at Sheraton’s District restaurant, inside of the downtown hotel, when they were asked to leave.
The couple says they shared a simple kiss and they didn't think anything of it until the manager came up to them and told them to get a room. The women said the manager told them other patrons had complained to him.
After he saw how upset they were they say he apologized and offered them free drinks if they left and came back another time. As of now, the Sheraton won't say anything other than they are looking into the incident. But, gay rights groups are already rallying around the couple.
White and Diaz said they don't know how far they want to take this, but they are hurt and want other people to know how they were treated.
What do you think about the manager’s alleged actions? Sound off by leaving a comment or head over to the ABC15Now! Facebook page.
Submitted by ONE Community on February 28, 2012 - 2:38pm
Maria Polletta - Feb. 28, 2012 01:23 PM
The Republic | azcentral.com
A spokeswoman for the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel on Tuesday said the hotel's general manager was "in the process of reaching out" to the lesbian couple reportedly asked to leave after hugging and kissing at the District American Kitchen & Wine Bar on Sunday.
The announcement followed nearly two days of angry comments from outraged social-media users left on the District's Facebook page. The District is inside the Sheraton, at Third and Van Buren streets.
Kenyata White and Aeimee Diaz, both 38, chose to celebrate their anniversary at the restaurant Sunday because they had met there, White said. Read more »
