ROSEVILLE, Calif. — A gay couple in California said they were kicked out of a local shopping mall because they kissed each other and held hands in public.
Daniel Chesmore (left) and Jose Guzman
(via KXTL-TV)
Daniel Chesmore, 21, and Jose Guzman, 24, said they were confronted by a security guard at the Westfield Galleria in Roseville, Calif., on Saturday and asked to leave after the couple exchanged a kiss, reported KTXL-TV.
“I kissed him on the cheek. That’s how my boyfriend and I show affection,” said Chesmore.
The couple recorded the security guard, who told them, “If you continue to kiss, you will be asked to leave the mall. Period,” the voice on the recording said. “I told you before, we contact any couple, any couple [...] about this.”
But in a follow-up investigation, KTXL-TV said it spotted dozens of straight couples sitting inside of the Galleria, holding hands and kissing in public, and as hours passed, not one couple was asked to leave the mall.
Watch:
“In a perfect world, there would be no difference in treatment between straight couples and gay couples,” Chesmore said.
Eddie Ollmann, general manager of the mall, would not comment on comera, but later released a statement that “persons that violate the Code of Conduct are asked to leave the property.”
KTXL-TV said it found nothing in the mall’s code of conduct about public displays of affection.
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Horrific.
“Gay couple sues mall, lives happily every after.”
Wrong not right !!!!
FREEDOM !!!! Sigh
sue them and own that mall.
Dafuq. I thought we’d PASSED medieval times.
:’{ im with others..sue them.
Call the attorneys,boys,that is the only way people and institution’s will learn. Unfortunately, Americans and American business respond to money, for the most part, and the idea of being punished monetarily hits ‘em where they do not like to be hit, right in the money clip. Having said that, my late partner and many others prior to him that I was with have held hands and kissed in public, and not just in a gay club or bar,though there as well,and while we got some snotty remarks and negative looks from time to time, in general there was little or no reaction, at least not directed to us personally or while we were within hearing distance; that was about it. And I’m talking as far back as the mid-70s.
Californians need to have a “kiss-in” at this mall I think! :)
Well…. whereʻs the national petition to the mallʻs owners regarding this blatant discrimination?? I wanna sign something…. dammit!! :)
I’m still shocked this happened in my hometown.
Where was security at the galleria when it got set on fire??
Stupid
that is bull! ridiclous! the manger is obvoiusly a homophobic jerk as well as the security guards!
What’s the deal? It’s not like they were bent over a sale rack using anal beads on each other!
This is so wrong, yet they don’t bat an eye when a guy grabs a woman’s ass in public or they are lip locked in the middle of the mall and the rest of us have to watch it. This MALL needs to learn a lesson where they understand it best in their pocket. There is nothing wroing with kissing and holding hands no matter who you are
I don’t kiss my spouse on the lips in public either. I don’t think that’s a gay, straight or otherwise thing. The main point is that they are referencing a “code of conduct” that doesn’t seem to exist. Maybe the guard has an internal moral code that he thinks these two are violating.
This is sickening! A straight couple should go to that mall, behave the same way, and see if they get kicked out…Some places are slow to evolve, and Roseville is not exactly a hotbed of liberalism…
Ridiculous
Amanda, they even said that they saw many straight couples showing affection and not one of them were told to leave
That is just sad i hate homophobs they are just leaglised nazis to me and need to be stoped
This is seriously sickening… Straight couples show affection in public all the damn time! >.> And they hardly ever get yelled at or kicked out! I really hate that disgusting double standard!
PLEASE ATTEND THIS EVENT ON SUNDAY IN ORDER TO DEMAND EQUAL RIGHTS! PLEASE SHARE THIS ON TOUE PAGE! http://www.facebook.com/events/174762112672922/
RALLY!!!
*you’re haha
that’s really sad :’( teenagers can paw each other and go all PDA in public in a mall but not a gay couple?! WTH?!
NOBODY CAN MAKE STOP HOLDING MY HUNNYS HAND OR STOP US FROM KISSING IN PUBLIC! WE ACT THE SAME WAY AS STRAIGHT COUPLES DO. WE ARE NOT HAVING SEX IN PUBLIC BUT THEY ACT LIKE WE ARE!!
I hope the couple sues the mall.
In California? What happened to being super supportive in that state? Or does that not exist anymore..
Very sad! Equal rights for all!!!!!!!!!!!!
that’s stupid.
I truly hope they get teh ACLU to take legal action against the security guard, the security company, the mall management and the mall itself.
Wrong again Cali
In California? huh
what the hell they shouldn’t of been kicked out of the mall that is rude
wow in cali wow i wonder why huhhhhh i thought they were gay friendly
Very very sad, equal rights for all
@ Amanda L Pence Melton if you read the article, you would have noticed they kissed on the cheek, not lips… either way it is still discrimination.. if opposing sex couples are allowed to do it, then so should same sex partners.
Respect to the couple for standing-up for their right!This is very shameful & inhuman!
Very sad !
Sick world we live in anymore. Jesus does it really cause pain to others if a gay couple shows affection?
thats horrible….
that’s just wrong its discrimination i hope you both take legal action on everyone . i can’t reade whole article on my phone but i agree with John Mattson
I thought California was a liberal State where gay rights, freedom and diversity was embraced and accepted. Guess I’m wrong. Maybe no such place exist.
Love makes the world go round….rather see people kissing than nuts out there shooting guns and killing people…get real with your priorities!!
You have to be kidding… IN CA… seriously.
sue the state ! Cali is suppose to BE gay friendly and allow everything so i heard and thought. you two guys could Make the entire LGBT COMMUNITY get OUR equal rights in the entire usa KEEP FIGHTING NEVER GIVE UP. STAND TOGETHER!
Lots of parts of California are pretty conservative, such as rural areas & small towns. In SF, Berkeley, LA etc they would probably not have a problem with this
This is messed up !
Love is beautiful! We can’t be shy! And keep expressing ur self guys! Eventually it’ll all be the same and it’ll be normal to the people who disagree with it! Because I know I don’t hide my feelings in public any more!!! :)
Our day will come!
I just can NOT freakin’ believe this! I’m not gay but I don’t think anyone has to be gay to be insulted by the blatant discrimination here! I would like to see this “Code of Conduct” that the general manager spoke of because I did not see it anywhere on the mall’s website nor their Facebook page.
Sue for the cause fuck man
Ps pda not illegal
You go guys, fuck the idiots who kicked you out, and keep up with the PDAs until they all learn to do what right they have: to look the fuck AWAY!!!
They should be happy you werent carrying guns… jeez people these days -__-… Cute couple too
Roseville – that explains it right there.
shame when will this end!
Damn security guard was probably just jealous cuz he’s a closet case and can’t get a man :P lmao
Wtf
The specific property in question… http://www.westfield.com/corporate/property-portfolio/united-states/galleriaatroseville.html
Let them know what you think boys and girls! Emails to the media will help a lot too
http://www.westfield.com/corporate/site/contact-us/
Say what! what the hell this is so wrong!
Makes me want to go there and suck face with my guy but i dont do pda
wow really cali? Making my home state stupid!
Sue the bastards & let God sort’em out.
They would have had to drag me out or called the police to drag me out.
Westfileld needs some love http://www.facebook.com/Westfield?fref=ts
What? Were they standing in front of a Chick-fil-A?!!
That’s fucked up
Never shop there again.
Totally ridiculous! That security guard should be fired!
I would say that your local LGBT Community Center, PFLAG groups, and Human Rights groups, etc. all should be told about this, so they might possibly stage a “rally” on your behalf to let that mall know that LGBT dollars will NOT be spent there, given their feelings about our family! Get the word out about this.
GASP!!! Oh no!! Save your children from seeing loving, committed relationships!! ;) xo
Sue them………..they wouldn’t do a damn thing about two straight kids doing the same thing. Sue Them!!!
sickening
Oh yes, please do make an example of those assholes.
Ignorence is learned at home!!! Get a clue!
Really… I MEAN REALLY!! I see more than that out of hetero couples all the time..
I see hetero couples practically mauling each other but for a gay couple to do so is discriminating in every manner
I believe that is northern calie. Southern calie very gay friendly.
Fund every store renting space and mall and demand until the mall apologizes and issues a statement that gay couples are welcome-and can hold hands and kiss-we will boycott!
That’s very disappointing.. Of all places, California?
Really? that’s just ridiculous!
Boycott Westfield Malls!
Boycott, definitely!!
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/state&id=9017154#&cmp=fb-kgo-article-9017154
I agree, boycott…
boycott and sue the shit out of them
boycott!!
So not cool!
I am so irritated by this, my gf works there and she was so angry when she found out, the manager making all the workers there seem like idiots. It’s so wrong. And I’m glad that Fox 40 went undercover to see if there really was a policy and proved that their wasn’t.
Didn’t the mall apologize for the security guards actions and state that they would gladly embrace the gay kiss-in scheduled? They said that they welcome diversity.
Looks like the mall might have new owners soon. ;-)
Bullshit !!! Sue ! Sue ! Sue ! That is outrageous.
Seriously? It disgusts me to know that this shit still happens!!! People are just mean. This happened to me and Trish at our engagement party at a sports bar. It really hurts!
Yes Allison they did apologize and that was so wonderful of them to do that. I hope they will include diversity training for that employee.