Were They Right To Be Offended?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2425026/Customers-anger-bar-staff-hand-receipt-marked-marked-gay-guys-friend.html

If they were, was it appropriate for them to take it to the papers and even for sexual equality charity Stonewall, and York Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Forum to become involved?

/// A spokesperson from the York Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Forum said: 'Clearly this is an unacceptable and wrong stereotype made by a member of staff at the bar, but it is also a mistake which could cause great offence and upset to anyone involved, regardless of their sexuality. ///

/// 'We would welcome any business to contact us should they feel their staff require training on issues of equality, where we would be more than happy to assist.' ///

[woofgang]

woo....two old birds with one post today....my job here is done :-)

[sp1814]

Sorry to interrupt the official andy-hughes love in...

But I don't think the men should really have taken offence, because no pejorative term was used.

If the receipt had read, "Two poofs sitting by the window" then yes, I could see a reason to take offence...but you know...some straight men are very very touchy about anyone questioning their heterosexuality.

[joko]

AOG - yes obviously a few would probably be offended if the colour of their skin was mentioned - the sort of people that get offended about anything and everything - but they wouldn't get any support - because its a simple statement of fact - a descriptive term about someones looks

it is a pretty big factor in how someone looks.

merely mentioning someones ethnicity or skin colour is about as racist as mentioning the fact that they were men is sexist ...

[Boto]

Life's too short to be offended by something so minor. I would have just laughed about something like that.

[ludwig]

I understand why they were offended. The establishment (via the employee) was rude to them. The fact that it was 'gay guys' is a bit of a red herring. If it had said 'nerdy looking bloke' or 'Lesbians' or 'overweight teenager' or 'man with big nose, it's just rude to put that kind of personal thing however accurate the description might be.