Friday, June 15, 2007

No room at the inn... for F@ggots.

At 34, John Garon found himself on the street.
After a short stay at one city homeless shelter, he moved to another. That stay was cut short once the shelter's director found out he was gay, Garon said.
Garon had been staying at the Fort Collins Colorado Open Door Mission for about three weeks, paying the $5 per-night fee or helping out with maintenance or other chores when he was told by the Rev. Richard Thebo, the shelter's director, he wasn't welcome to use the shelter anymore, Garon said.
When Thebo told him why, Garon was shocked.
"He said 'I don't allow homosexuals to use these facilities,' " Garon said. "I was blown away ... To be put out for something I can't change has profoundly impacted me."
But Thebo tells a different story.
Garon was asked to leave after he "hit on" another man at the shelter, which led to a fight, Thebo said.
Staff and other clients were "very put out" by Garon, Thebo said, because he'd flaunt his sexuality.
Garon said he never made any advances toward anyone at the shelter and made only occasional, passing comments about his ex-partner.
However, even if Garon had not gotten into the altercation, he still could have been denied a bed at the shelter simply for being gay, Thebo said.
Gays and lesbians are allowed to eat meals and take showers at the facility, Thebo said, but are not allowed to sleep in the shelter.
"I will not let them exert their sexuality here," he said. "Men have to sleep next to other men (in the shelter)."

... and the hoooooooooome of the braaaaaaaaaaaaaaave!

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Barf. This story makes me ill.

mary bishop said...

How assinine. The Rev. is a big bigot like most religionists.