Fort Worth couple Ben Allen and Justin Hudgins say a local party facility refused to rent them space for a wedding reception because they’re gay. Allen and Hudgins plan to marry in Mexico in April and wanted to book space for a reception when they get back, according to NBCDFW.com:
The owner of the All Occasion Party Place told Ben Allen and Justin Hudgins that she would not rent to them because they are gay, they said.
After learning they are gay, she said in an email to them that: “… it is because of God that I will not be a part in your reception and I know he loves you but not what you are doing.”
“It almost felt like a sucker-punch to the face,” Allen said.
“Initially, I didn’t know how to respond, so I called Justin immediately and told him what happened,” he said. “I was kind of floored a bit. I thought, in today’s day and age, for someone to deny you simply because you date someone of the same sex, it doesn’t really make sense to me.”
All Occasion Party Place, in Southeast Tarrant County between Rendon and Mansfield, has a Fort Worth street address but reportedly is just outside city limits, meaning it isn’t subject to Cowtown’s ordinance banning discrimination based on sexual orientation in public accommodations.
Watch the report below.
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