Hawaii Appeals Court Rules Against B&B For Turning Away "Detestable" Lesbian Couple

Good news from the Aloha State!

Hawaii's Intermediate Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling on Friday that found the owner of Aloha Bed & Breakfast discriminated against California couple Diane Cervelli and Taeko Bufford when the owner refused to rent them a room based on their sexual orientation.

Hawaii has a very clear public accommodation law which requires equal access to facilities and services regardless of race, gender, religion or sexual orientation.

So, it probably didn't help business owner Phyllis Young when she admitted the turned the women away because, in her view, homosexual relationships were "detestable" and "defiled the land."

Way to lose a court case, Phyllis.

LGBT legal eagles Lambda Legal represented the couple in the lawsuit.

"This has never been a case about the money," said Jennifer Pizer of Lambda Legal. "It's really been about a civil rights law that needs to protect everyone, it needs to be real and it needs to be followed. When people come for a vacation or other reasons to visit in Hawaii, everyone should be treated equally."

(source)