Receptionist abused gay man over male guest

A GAY American filmmaker has been awarded €1,500 in compensation for being harassed and verbally abused by an Irish hotel receptionist because of his sexual orientation.

The man, who was in Dublin for a film festival during the October bank holiday of 2008, brought a male friend back to his hotel in the early hours of Saturday morning and asked for the key to the room.

According to the complainant’s case, the receptionist, named only as Mr A, told him he could not bring a friend to his room. He made a comment about not allowing men to be with men.

The complainant said his friend needed to go to the toilet, so Mr A gave him the key to the hall toilet.

While the friend was gone, the filmmaker asked why he was not allowed to bring a guest to his room. Mr A said he knew what they were up to and he didn’t allow “that sort of thing” at the hotel.

The filmmaker asked what he meant by this remark.

Mr A said he meant “the kind that diddles young boys”. The complainant understood this to be a reference to paedophile behaviour.

Mr A said he had the authority to refuse him and he showed him the hotel sign, which said management has the right to refuse access to non-residents.

The complainant’s friend returned and Mr A said he should go away with his young man. He said he had cameras everywhere and could see all their comings and goings.

The complainant submitted that he was extremely embarrassed and had only wanted to show a book to his friend.

That night the filmmaker returned to the hotel and, according to the hotel’s case, launched a verbal attack on the receptionist and “became berserk” and threatened Mr A who alerted a security guard.

The Equality Tribunal found the hotel guest had been harassed and verbally abused on the grounds of his sexual orientation during the first incident but dismissed the claim that the man’s friend was denied access to his room because he was gay.

“The booking form, the rate and the daily guest log all support the fact that it was a single room,” concluded Equality Officer Elaine Cassidy.

Earlier this year a couple in England successfully sued a hotel which refused them a room because they were gay.

Martyn Hall and Steve Preddy sued the owners of the Chymorvah Private Hotel in Cornwall after the devout Christians who ran the business stopped them sharing a double room because they did not recognise gay marriages.

The hotel said it also stopped unmarried couples sharing but these two men were civil partners.