Gay skaters sue Berkeley rink for discrimination

AP ^ | 5/5/6

[SmithL]

BERKELEY, Calif. - Two gay figure skaters sued the Berkeley ice rink for discrimination after twice being told to stop holding hands while skating.

Alan Lessik and John Manzon-Santosin sued in Alameda County Superior Court last month accusing the manager of Berkeley Iceland of unlawful and discriminatory business practices by denying them their right to skate as a pair.

The manager, Monte Tiedemann, twice told the pair to stop holding hands during their preparations for Gay Games VII at the Berkeley arena. The pair, who met at the Sydney Gay Games in 2002, said they have not encountered similar admonitions at two other Bay Area ice rinks.

"We were publicly humiliated by having this happen to us, and we feel absolutely clear that Monte has a problem with gay skaters," Lessik said.

Iceland's management said the pair were barred from holding hands for safety reasons.

"There is no homophobia going on at Berkeley Iceland," company official Jay Westcott said. "It's even a little bit insulting because we've had people of various sexual orientations who have worked for us, coached for us and skated for us."

The lawsuit demands an apology and a requirement that the Iceland manager undergo sensitivity training.

The two sides will attempt to settle the dispute Tuesday during a mediation meeting, said attorney Amy Todd, who represents the pair on behalf of the National Center for Lesbian Rights' Homophobia in Sports Project.

[SmithL]

I think they're the ones on thin ice.

[Alouette]

They can't hold hands, but what about a crotch lift?

[edpc]

Gay male skaters......

I've never heard of such nonsense.

[neodad]

Two gay figure skaters

Isn't that a little redundant?

[RichInOC]

"Gay male figure skaters" is multiply redundant.

[dhs12345]

Yup. All male Figure Skaters are gay. Have told my wife this a number of times. She doesn't believe me. She is a big fan of Figure Skating.

[Michael.SF.]

Iceland's management said the pair were barred from holding hands for safety reasons.

The safety issues are not clear to me, but if they do not let anyone hold hands, then it is not discrimination.

[Mr. Jazzy]

Flamers on ice or just gay blades?

[socal_parrot]

I'm SHOCKED! Shocked I tell ya!!!

[last american]

Alan Lessik and John Manzon-Santosin

Bet one of them is only 12 years old too.

[edpc]

It's cold in the rink. They should just go home, relax, and share a nice bowl of soup.

[dhs12345]

LOL.

Hey, tooty-fruity-Rudy.

My wife is a fan and insists that I be in the same room while she is watching the competitions. Makes it easier for me to come up with nick names.

Then there is Brian Girl-tano.

[Michael.SF.]

They can't hold hands, but what about a crotch lift?

I can see why she would be smiling, but trying that on a guy would have to really hurt.

[Alouette]

trying that on a guy would have to really hurt.

Well, they are skating pairs, so one of them has to be the liftee.

[Free ThinkerNY]

I always look forward to The Gay Games. The Fisting Competition can't be beat. Ben Dover is competing this year.

[llevrok]

I'd think straight skaters could sue for minority discrimination if any one could.

[hosepipe]

BERKELEY?... The Commie heaven?.. Pulleeese..
Moonbat Central is indeed filled with guano..

[joesnuffy]

National Center for Lesbian Rights' Homophobia in Sports Project

Ah ha but was it The "Disabled Hispanic Illegal Alien Center for Lesbian Rights Homophobia in Sports and Immigrant Midnight Border Crossings" chapter...that complained?

Get them to file and we can get some federal action on this pressing problem...stat!

[mtbopfuyn]

This from California and Berkeley no less.

[windcliff]

LOL

[Graybeard58]

Yup. All male Figure Skaters are gay. Have told my wife this a number of times. She doesn't believe me. She is a big fan of Figure Skating.

I like to watch figure skating too but you are right, the men are homo. Many times their partner is their sister, They are probably thinking, "if I have to touch a woman, it will be my sis".

Bugs Bunny is as queer as a 3 dollar bill too. How many times have we seen him plant a big ole kiss right on Elmer Fudd's mouth?

[onyx]

Gay skaters?
Bezerkley?

What's going on?

[onyx]

ROTFLMAO!

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

I think they should change this to "fagure skating".

[Michael.SF.]

The Gay Games. The Fisting Competition

Sponsored by:

And then there is the EXTREME Gay Games, sponsored by:

[null and void]

She thinks Liberachi is straight, too, I bet...

[null and void]

Home town boy makes, uh, good...

[elcid1970]

And boy would I like to be her lift-er!

[edpc]

If your picture wasn't bad enough....

The song for this program was Some Day My Prince Will Come......I'm not kidding.

[dhs12345]

Yup. And they are pretty flaming about it too. Gee, this is scary -- I know more than I care to admit about figure skating.

I have been "forced" to watch many a skating event and know pretty much everything there is to know.

Even, been to a Stars on Ice with my wife. Anything to make the better half happy.

But, but... bugs is my hero. And he is always dressing up in women's clothing. Tsk. Tsk.

[Onelifetogive]

Gay Games VII

My stomach turns when I even think about what the list of events might include.....

[lawdude]

"They can't hold hands, but what about a crotch lift? "

Bowling grip!

[dhs12345]

LOL. Probably. Any guy that concerned about his clothing is well beyond metrosexual. Will ask her.

[GSWarrior]

Scott Hamilton is straight.

[Free ThinkerNY]

I can't stand to watch the Extreme Gay games. Although, I can't resist watching them play "Hide the Gerbil."

[manwiththehands]

Great. Now we have gay sssssskaters.

[Ronin]

In Berkeley? I'm shocked!!! Simply SHOCKED!!!

I'd have thought they would have given them the spotlight and then maybe a cozy little room to unwind after their skating adventure.

[vox humana]

Homophobia in Berkeley??? Who would of thought...

[Shimmer128]

and I was just eating soup myself, when I saw your post. Now there's little bits of soup everywhere, although it was not the same kind of soup as you posted!!!!

[RandallFlagg]

Ugh!
A disgrace to a fine military uniform.

[Seeking the truth]

and my wife & I have never, never seen him take a fall....all time great & class act.

[Alberta's Child]

Real men ain't figure skaters . . .

[Disambiguator]

[Secret Agent Man]

Okay, somebody has to defend Bugs. He's not queer. I point to several cartoons where:

1. He heterosexually harassed (in old lingo, came onto) a mechanical 'girl' rabbit lure on the greyhound racetrack.

2. He was wooing Daisy bunny away from a big ol' lump of another bunny.

3. Many times would see a good looking woman and give a hoot or a howl (and then promptly lose his eyeballs on the floor, or pick up a jaw on the floor).

Bugs kissed other male characters to make them embarrassed and angry. Definite hetero bunny there.

Okay, I feel Bugs has been vindicated here. :)

[Graybeard58]

How about the drag queen costumes?

[Secret Agent Man]

Hey, even Wesley Snipes has worn a dress. Same with Kurt Russell too. You calling them queer? :)

I go back again to the defense that he wore the stuff to wind up embarrassing the antagonist guy who winds up 'falling' for his character in drag.

In short: NOT QUEER!!!! :)

[beyond the sea]

Three finger ball or two?

[DBeers]

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The lawsuit demands an apology and a requirement that the Iceland manager undergo sensitivity training.

ROTFLMAO