Suburban Chicago restaurant targeted by gay kiss-in
Sun. June 6, 2010 12:00 AM by GoPride.com News Staff
Chicago, IL -
A hundred gays and lesbians came to a Mexican restaurant in the Chicago suburb of Alsip on Friday night to protest alleged discrimination against a gay couple.
That couple, Frankie Nielsen and Danny Hankes, say they were told to stop kissing by the owner of La Fiesta Azteca restaurant in May. They say it was a "social kiss."
"He told us he 'knew we were in love' in a sarcastic voice and said we should calm down because it is a family restaurant," Nielsen told FOX Chicago News.
"They have their opinion, and I have mine," restaurant owner Jaime Esparza told the Chicago Tribune. He said the kissing went beyond just a friendly peck on the cheek and that he would have had the same reaction to a straight couple.
"I don't feel like I did anything wrong when I told them to leave," he said.
Four police squad cars were posted outside the restaurant during the protest, but no one was arrested.
That couple, Frankie Nielsen and Danny Hankes, say they were told to stop kissing by the owner of La Fiesta Azteca restaurant in May. They say it was a "social kiss."
"He told us he 'knew we were in love' in a sarcastic voice and said we should calm down because it is a family restaurant," Nielsen told FOX Chicago News.
"They have their opinion, and I have mine," restaurant owner Jaime Esparza told the Chicago Tribune. He said the kissing went beyond just a friendly peck on the cheek and that he would have had the same reaction to a straight couple.
"I don't feel like I did anything wrong when I told them to leave," he said.
Four police squad cars were posted outside the restaurant during the protest, but no one was arrested.