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Lesbians booted from Timmy’s

Chain apologizes to couple

BLENHEIM, ONT.—Tim Hortons has apologized to a lesbian couple after they were kicked out of one of the chain’s restaurants in southwestern Ontario. Riley Duckworth, 25, of London, and her partner, Patricia Pattenden, 23, say they were told to leave because they are lesbians.  The pair was asked to leave after a church minister complained. Rev. Eric Revie of Glad Tidings Community Church says he was there with his wife and two children when he asked the manager to tell the couple to tone it down. Revie says at the time he thought it was a man and woman and found out the couple was actually same sex after he complained. “I had my children there. I asked the manager if she could ask them to tone it down,” he says. “There was a couple that were straddling each other, making out … not just kissing, going further than that,” Revie told CFCO radio in Chatham. Duckworth says she and Pattenden were outside drinking coffee with a group of family and friends and kissed once or twice but denies they were groping each other. Duckworth said she and Pattenden were told “to leave within five minutes or the cops would be called. The manager said that our behaviour was inappropriate and that it was a family friendly establishment and it wasn’t acceptable there,” Duckworth said. Alexandra Cygal, manager of public affairs at Tim Hortons’ head office, said it was not the store’s intention to “offend or target anyone based on their sexual orientation.” “Tim Hortons and its restaurant owners have always welcomed all families and communities to their restaurants and will continue to do so,” she said. “The guests’ behaviour went beyond public displays of affection and was making other guests feel uncomfortable,” she said. The management has apologized to the women and invited them back to their restaurant, added Cygal. Duckworth said she was not contacted directly by anyone at Tim Hortons and read the apology for the first time on a website.

Mourners pack church for Jamie

Allan Hubley and son JamieKANATA, ONT. —More than 500 people packed the Holy Redeemer Roman Catholic Parish for the funeral of 15-year-old Jamie Hubley, son of Ottawa city councilor Allan Hubley, in late October. The gay teen killed himself after years of homophobic bullying, which he logged about on social media, before committing suicide Oct 14. "I am tired of life really. It's so hard, I'm sorry, I can't take it anymore," Hubley wrote just before he took his own life. "I don't want to wait three more years, this hurts too much. How do you even know it will get better? It's not." His funeral took place near AY Jackson Secondary School, where Hubley, who was in Grade 10, was trying to restart a gay-straight alliance.

Casey House to see major upgrade

TORONTO—Casey House will soon undergo a redevelopment that will allow the specialty HIV hospital to house more patients and to offer a new day health program, which will serve up to 200 regular clients while they remain in their homes and communities, thanks to a planned contribution from the government of Ontario that could reach $29 million.  Liberal cabinet ministers Deb Matthews and Glen Murray made the announcement which envisions a six-storey glass structure that will rise from the back of Casey House’s current building.  It will contain 14 rooms with private bathrooms, replacing Casey House’s outdated patient rooms. The day program will offer interdisciplinary treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS in the community and will relieve pressure on local hospitals.

Homophobic MLA touts cure site

Marc DaltonVANCOUVER—A B.C. Liberal MLA who once compared homosexuality to gambling, pornography and abortion used time in the legislature recently to promote a church whose leader believes homosexuality can be cured. Maple Ridge-Mission MLA Marc Dalton praised the U.K.-based Alpha organization as “a free forum where people can meet to discuss God, the afterlife and the teachings of Christ.” Gay Vancouver West End MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert of the NDP wants to know what Premier Christy Clark is going to do about Dalton’s comments in the legislature. He wonders why one of Clark’s MLAs is promoting a religious group — and particularly one with questionable views on gay people “Frankly, what they are saying to gay and lesbian people is: ‘Don’t ever have sex… you’re a genetic abomination,’’ Chandra Herbert charges. “Most Christians would reject this dogma.”

Human rights complaint goes forward

VANCOUVER—The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal has begun hearing a complaint a gay couple prevented from booking a room at a Grand Forks, B.C., bed and breakfast because of the pair’s sexual orientation. Two years ago Shaun Eadie and Brian Thomas filed their complaint against Les and Susan Molnar, who used to own Riverbed Bed and Breakfast. The Molnars had applied to have the complaint dismissed. They have admitted  they cancelled the reservation because Eadie and Thomas are gay, but said they did so on account of their own religions convictions.

In March 2010, tribunal member Murray Geiger-Adams rejected the request for dismissal. He said the Molnars’ argument that their charter rights to freedom of religion and association trumped Eadie’s and Thomas’ rights was not sufficient to have the hearing thrown out.

AIDS committee digs in heals

OTTAWA—The board of directors of the AIDS Committee of Ottawa (ACO) has refused to step down following a no-confidence vote at the annual general meeting on Sept 21. Angry at new rules governing its nomination process, members revolted against the board at the AGM.  In a statement, the board said it had consulted lawyers and would soon meet with its members. “The Board of Directors has received legal advice that confirms its current status and authority as the operating Board of Directors,” stated the release. Community member Mélanie Jubinville-Stafford says the meeting was marred by a group of participants who were unhappy with changes in the ACO structure.

Designer catered to queens

VANCOUVER— Benoit L Richard, a French-Canadian fashion designer adored by Vancouver’s drag queens for his originality and generosity, had died of  liver cancer. He was 64. Drag queens relied on Richard to design elaborate costumes at rock-bottom prices, according to admirer André Tardif, known as Wilma Cockswell. Richard, who lived in the West End, designed many costumes for emperors and empresses as part of the Imperial Court System.

–Peter Carlyle-Gordge is a Winnipeg-based freelance writer.