A lesbian couple claim they were kicked out of a pub – for being gay.
Jackie Mason, 42, and 11 pals had enjoyed an afternoon at the Tavern Inn in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.
But she claims staff asked them to leave shortly before midnight because they did not want the venue to become a ‘gay bar’.
Jackie admits she was kissing fiancee Michelle but denies they created a sexually-charged atmosphere.
She said: “It was outrageous. I have lived in the town for 32 years and I have been openly gay for most of that time.
“I have never ever in my entire history experienced any kind of homophobia in Weston before.”
The group, which included a number of gay couples, had been in the pub most of last Sunday, but things turned sour shortly before midnight.
Jackie added: “The landlord told us ‘this isn’t a gay bar and I don’t want it going on in my bar. It’s upsetting my regulars and I don’t want it in here’.”
But landlady Sharon Malone claims the group were only asked to leave after aggressively confronting bar staff, who had asked a gay couple to tone down their heavy petting following a complaint.
Sharon said: “The group had a great day but in the evening a couple of the guys were getting overly amorous.
“We chose to ignore it at first, but then we had a complaint from one of our customers, a senior citizen.
“Had we said that to a heterosexual couple, like we probably do every week, then we wouldn’t have a problem.”
Sharon said the group were not barred or refused drinks until after they became aggressive to bar staff.
She added: “I find it upsetting that they have played the race card. We aren’t an anti-gay pub.
“I employ gay people, I have gay friends and my hairdresser is gay.”
