Gay married couple Nelson Ayala and Jamel Brown Jr. were shocked when they went to pick up a food order at a restaurant in Bronx, New York, on January 15.
They were asked to leave by a restaurant employee who was offended after seeing the couple affectionately embracing each other.
A restaurant employee in the Bronx made #homophobic comments towards a married gay couple and asked them to leave after they held each other affectionately. The restaurant apologized, fired the employee and offered the couple a free meal. https://t.co/YOewuKLfIe #LGBT #LGBTQ pic.twitter.com/53KXtbiRSs
— LGBT+ News (@mondokoosh) January 18, 2021
In a video filmed by the couple, the homophobic worker at La Isla Cuchifrito restaurant was heard telling them in Spanish, “man, woman,” suggesting a romantic partnership should be between people of opposite genders.
She also told the couple that her family had different customs.
That employee has now been fired, according to News 12.
Good. Consequences.
— final day ☆☭Ⓐ (@nageva91) January 19, 2021
Pink News said that while the anti-LGBTQ employee berated the couple and repeatedly told them to leave the premises, the other employees did not enforce the order.
In fact, another employee siding with the couple told them she agreed her coworker was out of line for asking them to leave.
The couple was traumatized by the incident and said getting food during the pandemic was already a challenge.
Brown Jr. told News 12:
“Now that we have to go somewhere and be kicked out because of our sexual preference is just mind-blowing.”
Ayala also added:
“Who I love shouldn’t define where I shop or eat at. I came here to get service, not to get judged.”
Why do we still need Pride? Because this sort of thing still goes on all over the place. Vital to make a fuss every time it happens, the social power of public shaming is often underrated. https://t.co/gELzrX8gBe
— Tom Doran (@portraitinflesh) January 19, 2021
This happened in ultra-liberal NYC, too. Imagine how it must be in some deep red states.
— Tom Doran (@portraitinflesh) January 19, 2021
Is it 1950s again, good lord.🏳️🌈
— Children of Fruit Machine-Canada's Gay Purge (@rickhfx) January 18, 2021
The couple canceled their food order and demanded a refund after the incident.
They also filed a complaint with the police, which prompted an apology from the establishment.
Boyd Cole of La Isla Cuchifrito said the management in “no way” condones the kind of behavior that was exhibited by the confrontational employee.
Hands up who else thinks this homophobic employee is also gender critical too 👋 … the state of nasty people being anti-LGBTQIA+.
It’s not like we all go around screaming at straight people embracing… no, we get on with life, while they actively abuse us…
— Sarah Faye #HatedbyTrolls (@sarah_faye_) January 18, 2021
Cole confirmed the employee has been terminated and added in a statement to News 12:
“They have been in this community for over 20 years and have never dealt with something like this.”
“They want to offer the couple their sincerest apology and a free meal.”
Despite the peace offering, the couple told the news outlet they plan on never returning to the restaurant.
