Monday, October 28, 2013

Rant: You're Gay? No Tip For You.

Imagine this: You're a server and provide excellent service to a couple that dines at the restaurant. You would rightfully expect a tip, compensation for the good work that you did. However, that couple refuses to leave you a gratuity and it has nothing to do with the service. It is because they believe you are gay. What?? Who the hell would do something as stupid and bigoted as that?

Sadly, this actually happened recently at a Carrabba's Italian Grill in Kansas. An alleged Christian couple left their server a nasty and bigoted note instead of a tip. Interestingly, they initially stated the the service had been excellent. So they really had no valid reason not to leave a gratuity. The note allegedly stated: "That being said, we cannot in good conscience tip you, for your homosexual lifestyle is an affront to GOD" as well as "“We hope you will see the tip your fag choices made you lose out on, and plan accordingly." WTF??

First, how the hell did you know he was gay? Or did you merely speculate? It sounds like you believe in stereotypes and make assumptions based on those prejudices. Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!

Second, it was ok for a gay server to wait on you and tend to your needs, but it wasn't ok for you to compensate him for his excellent service? How hypocritical of you. How would you like to work for someone but when you went to collect payment, they told you they couldn't, in good conscience, give money to bigots? I doubt you would be happy, and would fight to get paid. You even admitted his service was excellent so you had no valid reason not to tip.

Third, where is your Christian love? All I see here is Christian hate. I know you do not represent all, or even the majority of Christians. I am absolutely confident that Jesus would have tipped his server, whether he was gay or not. Jesus would not have discriminated against his server. You might disagree with me, but you won't convince me that I am wrong.

Fourth, unfortunately, you are not the only bigots out there to stiff a server. For example, others have stiffed servers for the color of their skin. All of you hateful people need to stay home and eat there, and don't bother to patronize restaurants. Your money is not needed. Your hate is not needed. Your prejudice and bigotry is not needed. Stay home!

Fifth, servers work very hard and they rely on tips. If they provide good service, then they deserve to receive a commensurate gratuity. It doesn't matter the color of their skin, their religion, their sexual orientation, the earring in their nose, or whatever other inconsequential matter is involved. Did they do their job properly? That is all that matters.

Sixth, your note actually had the opposite effect than intended. Because of so many good and loving people, your server garnered many of generous tips from customers who oppose your brand of hate. That server has become even more popular because of your detestable actions. And if you ever dare to return to that restaurant, I bet your hate won't be tolerated.

Stop the hate and bigotry to servers. Stop the hate and bigotry to everyone. Just stop it!

2 comments:

Frederick Wright said...

Richard - this incident is an insight into the hate that all gay people face on a daily basis. And all of it coming from vicious,violently bigoted people who consider themselves Christian. I've dealt with it my entire life, even without any of the so-called stereotypical traits that the media likes to attach to gay men.

There is an entire major political party, the GOP, which openly calls for extermination of all gays and lesbians. Christian pastors who use GOP funds to set up death camps in Uganda and pass gay harassment and abuse laws in Russia.

In my view, every single Christian, every single HUMAN who stands by silently while these atrocities are committed are just as guilty as the ones who carry them out - it is only by the silence of good people that evil can flourish.

Joe Roberts said...

Haters. Sigh... :-(