Leisha Hailey appeared in the ‘L-Word’ and is a member of the band Uh Huh Her.
Looks like Dallas-based Southwest Airlines could have another big gay controversy on its hands.
Months after a pilot’s anti-gay rant was broadcast over a stuck cockpit microphone, L-Word actress Leisha Hailey (also a lesbian in real life) is alleging on Twitter she was booted from an SWA flight after — GASP! — kissing her partner.
We’re waiting to hear back from Southwest — and working to get in touch with Hailey — but for now, below are her tweets about the incident.
UPDATE, 5:30 p.m.: Southwest has posted a statement on its website about the incident, which occurred aboard Flight 2274. Southwest’s statement reads: “Initial reports indicate that we received several passenger complaints characterizing the behavior as excessive. Our crew, responsible for the comfort of all Customers on board, approached the passengers based solely on behavior and not gender. The conversation escalated to a level that was better resolved on the ground, as opposed to in flight. We regret any circumstance where a passenger does not have a positive experience on Southwest and we are ready to work directly with the passengers involved to offer our heartfelt apologies for falling short of their expectation.”
UPDATE, 5:52 p.m.: Those who’ve expressed support for Hailey include fellow gay musician Adam Lambert, who tweeted, “News: kissing is NOT indecent behavior. No matter what sex u are. So if two of the same sex are sweetly kissing, get over it!”
What’s the real story? It sounds from Southwest like they were disruptive and then reacted badly when approached. What do the girls or other passengers say? I wouldn’t like it if straight couples were disruptive. I generally don’t like PDA straight or gay, but a simple kiss who cares?
I’m sure it was her bad attitude that got her in trouble. I’m glad her she was given the boot; being disruptive is good cause to get kicked off. Personally, I would have complained and made no secret that it was me.
Southwest did that to ME! I was met on the ground by city police to be escorted out of the airport. My group was having fun, not dangerous, not rude, not escessive. The flight attendent needed someone to pick on as she must have had a bad day. Other passengers told the police they couldn’t hear us or that we were not causing any problem. This woman, because SHE had an issue with life, wasted the time of four law officals to show her power. Something is worng!!!! Southwest you need to double check your employees…
That is unacceptable. How comes that if a straight couple is kissing, everybody just thinks it’s cute but if a gay couple is kissing, it’s almost an insult for everyone who’s gotta see it? Something is going wrong in this world and if children get taught that it’s a nasty thing when same-sex people have a relationship by their parents, by their environment or by watching them get kicked out, they’ll never learn tolerance and become ignorant jerks like their parents.