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Homophobic Businesses and Organisations
Unfortunately there are some businesses around Kingston that appear not to approve of LGBT people. These reports are unconfirmed, but published in the hope that you'll think twice about supporting homophobes.
If your business or organisation is listed here, we welcome your reply: simply email it to
Sandee's Bakery, Odessa
SR writes:
I was at Sandees Bakery in Odessa with my g/f and we were kissing while waiting for the tarts to be done...nothing heavy going on..just a kiss or too..and we got the usual glares..then she says "If you are going to do THAT, you can go wait outside. I have children in here". For one, the children were to be about 16 or so...and another we were paying customers. I couldnt believe she was so closed minded. The kids were probably more educated than she was. (added July 24 2006)
Joy Supper Club, Ontario Street, Kingston
AR writes:
On the June 16th, I went out dancing at the Joy Supper Club on Ontario Street with a bunch of friends. We were having fun and my friend began to kiss another girl on the dance floor, as other straight couples were doing. A few men stared at them the whole time. I saw a man and woman actually point and laugh at them! A while later, the bouncer or manager or someone from the club came and tapped my friend on the shoulder and asked her to stop with the kissing. He said, “I don’t personally don’t have a problem with this, but everyone else does.”
They weren’t actually asked to leave but we took this as our cue to head home. We had already been there for several hours, giving them our money. It was too bad; they had good music.
Thank you for giving me an opportunity to share this story. It has been upsetting me ever since. I’ve been using it as a story to explain to my straight friends that, yes, homophobia does still exist, even in Kingston. (added July 2nd, 2007)
Thousand Island Casino
TM writes:
This is the tale of my experience with the TICC night manager and his treatment of transgendered folks (or a folk, at least).
This is a bathroom issue. Being transgendered public bathrooms are a touchy subject sometimes and the TI Charity Casino is one such place. Maybe it's just the night manager, I haven't had any experience with the daytime manager, but the first time this happened, I had gone in to the casino and part way through the evening I had to pee - hey, it happens.
So I went in to the ladies' room and did my thing and headed back out to the floor. About three minutes later a fellow comes over to me and, right out in the middle of the floor, asked for my ID; then we have a little chat whereupon he informs me that I am more than welcome to use the men's washroom but that the women's washroom is reserved for those sporting an "F" on their driver's licence, thank you very much.
I was quite taken aback and so my friend and I left shortly afterward. I went back to the casino a few weeks later and, contrary to my previous warning, I used the ladies' washroom again. Three minutes later buddy was back, using the same excuse: that customers had complained about being uncomfortable.
Now, not for nothing but I pass pretty damned well. I have been living full time for more than 13 years, and having transitioned as a teen I've got the routine down. The only way that anyone is going to clock me is by my driver's licence. The first night I recall seeing the security guard who checked my ID talking to the manager just before he came over to see me.
Our second conversation had me a little more prepared than the first, and when he suggested the men's washroom again I countered asking if he would guarantee my safety on the grounds of the casino when I leave in the pitch black. Some guys aren't going to be very cool with me heading in to the men's washroom to do my business. He thought on that a moment and realized the kind of liability that creates and offerred another solution.
I am now welcome to use a bathroom that in the employees only section of the casino. This means, however, that I have to go to the guard desk and ask to go pee - which is not something that a 30 year old woman (trans or otherwise) should have to do; and creates no end of odd looks from new guards. Not only that but in order to go back there, the guard has to check the room before and after I go in for a pee; that's terribly dehumanizing.
I haven't been back to the casino in many months but have heard from friends who know the story that the night manager - with whom I share a first name - is still working there. I created a "sensitivity package" many months ago that I will some day deliver to him in the hopes of showing him that transgendered folks are just as normal as everyone else and my reasons for using the ladies' room have only to do with going pee, like everyone else.
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