Protest Held Over Gay Men Being Kicked Out Of Chico's Tacos
It started with a kiss, but now an alleged incident of discrimination at Chico's Tacos is becoming the El Paso Police Department's problem.
It all began nearly two weeks ago when two guards kicked out group a gay men after two of them kissed. Supporters of those men voiced their concerns this evening in East El Paso, staging several protest at Chico's Tacos where the incident took place.
While some are calling what happened here flat out discrimination, others say it was simply a business executing its right to refuse service. But the now those involved are taking aim at police.
It started when two guards at Chico's Taco kicked a group of men out of the restaurant after two of them reportedly kissed on the lips. The men refused to leave and one of them called police to file a discrimination report.
When the officer arrived he sided with the guards, telling them it was illegal for the men to kiss in public. But the officer was citing a law that was declared unconstitutional several years ago.
One of those men has since filed an official complaint against the police department. Before that complaint was filed El Paso Police Chief Greg Allen released a statement confirming the officer had misstated the law. He went on to say the department does not condone any form of discrimination. Still those involved say the police should be held responsible for how the officer handled the situation.
The owner of Chico's Tacos could not be reached for comment. We also called El Paso police in regards to the complaint filed against them. We have yet to receive a formal response. We were told they are looking into the complaint.
I also am a heterolsexual citizen and I am not against anyone who chooses to this type of life. However,,,WHERE you choose to practice this type of behavior does make a difference and it doesn't matter what time of day it is. There are other people in the area who do not want to be a witness to this such as the elderly and most importantly children. These people should have the common sense to behave like descent people if they want the respect....they certainly should earn it. That comment goes for heterolsexuals as well.
We have managed to control the stinky smoker to smoke elsewhere where we don't have to be exposed to their stinch. That is how strongly I feel about these people and their rude behavior. I personally know a few of these people and know that some are well educated and for the most part behave elequently but when they all get together at one time they just happen to be too flamboyant like and I wouldn't want my kids around that. It seems that the more you tell them to stop acting, the more they tend to put it in your face. So for the police dept.,,,,please don't let these kind of people take over for the sake of our children and the respect for our elders.
bridge
4 months agoNow hold on, I know for a fact that gays have there own lil under world in EP and Juarez.
And they keep it to them selves, I wonder if the release of the brüno movie has anything to do with all of this?
Trust me, they do have a very solid organization, everything from high level political positions to prostitution.
It would be a good idea to follow the 2 people implicated in this incident just to make sure that they do follow the rules just like the rest of us.
Gabe...B^{>
Gabriel411
4 months agoWhether you like it or not a business has the right to do business with whoever they want. If Chico's does not want to serve them then so be it. It is about time people started standing up for what they believe in and not let the so called politically correct dictate what they (you) can or can not do! You always have the option of going to another business or vendor. We should not allow any one group to dictate morality to anyone gay or straight. I say stand up for what you believe in, be honest and never sacrifice your integrity.
Speed
Support the 2nd
Speed
4 months agoI think that this is very sad, but maybe finally with all this attention the police department will train their officers to handle these types of situations better. I have a friend who just got beat up not to long ago by two police officers for being gay. It started out side a bar when a unit pulled up and was playing the spooky music from the Saw movie. My friend, who was the driver, turned his camera on and was recording them playing the music because he felt they were mocking him. They pulled them out of the car and told the passenger to sit down and not turn around. The passenger is about six feet tall and the driver is about 5’6. As the passenger had his back turned they beat my friend breaking his nose and arm. These officers think they can abuse their power simply because of the badge…. It’s upsetting that they do this and get away with it… They arrested the driver for DWI even though he was parked and the passanger was released...
de1de3
4 months agoShame On Chicos for allowing their security to do what they did. I have been there before and have seen girls kissing and being loud and nothing was done. This is pure hate! What about the many times that there has been a guy and girl making out on the table as if they were at home obout to engage in sexual activity, why were they not asked to leave? We all have to be tolerant of one another.
It could be thoose guys who where asked to leave that might be saving your life one day when you are in as emergency room fighting for you life, what will you do at that point, tell them you rather just die?
Theses individuals did not forget there manners at home they were simply out and about and enjoying themselves as would a straight couple.
Lets not forget we are all human, who bleed the same color red, enough of discrimination, good for these guys stand up for your rights!
edmond
4 months agoLets start off by saying that I am heterosexual. Personally it is none of my business about others orientation. Couples kiss all the time in public. The fact of the matter is that it was 2 males. Perhaps the guards are homophobic and reacted to their own morals, ethics and beliefs. Or perhaps these men were acting up and being loud. It also depends what time these men were there... if it was late at night perhaps passed midnight, there are always a lot of intoxicated people there (where kids should not be at that time of the night and the children should not be an issue... but that's a different subject). The point is that late at night especially on the weekends at any chicos the majority of the people who go are young and intoxicated. I have personnally seen many times where hetero couples have been making out, and they are never kicked out. These actions were wrong of the security and police of el paso to allow this to happen. People and even myself will never quite understand why they chose this particular lifestyle, as homosexuals probably don't understand heteros, but it's not anyones job to understand and to react to their feelings. They weren't posing any harm to themselves or others they were just enjoying their chicos and showing public display of affection... which we are ALL entitled to as our civil rights. It's a small town mentality that these security guards and police officers and even viewers are reacting to.
rjv13
4 months agoI have never seen TACO'S DE LENGUA on the Menu at Chicos. This must have been a HORRIBLE SCENE.
123CARS
4 months agoThis action as discribed is very strong discrinatory action. As they went in as paying customers maybe the failed to know or see a sign stating there was limits on behaiver from homosexual or hetrosexauls personally never seen signage nor notifacations stating such difference at this establishment. Many times in Chicos Tacos I have experience couples homo/hetro kissing some more passionate that others from both parties. Never have I seen it brought to their attention .Personal Experience in El paso is many people are extremely spitefull to homosexuals even if not sure a person is homosexual. Speaking from experience. They are very distructive in any manner they can be. Many abuse their authority to express thier spite. I experienced in a company here in El Paso,where a supervisor brutally distroy a individual reputation, creditbility, and opportunity to advance due to what she assumed on my sexuality. Not knowing what it was.Homo/Hetro.The point is here in El paso it is open and not surprising people abuse their authority for their person reasons, of course few do not. We all are the same,People. Every buys,sells,and we all pay taxes...The point is nothing makes others more normal than others. Everyone lives their own life as they chooce.We all have choices!This is Good for these boys to do stand for their rights as consumer as well as humans .Good luck And stand for your rights. As it states in the constitution "All men are created equal"
rhino
4 months agoKudos to Chico's Tacos and their security guards for stopping these individulas from exhibiting their disgusting lifestyle. What's even more disgusting is the fact that Sheriff Wiles is now turning against the Police Department by inciting these attention seekers to file frivolous complaints against his former officers. He is using his position to further his own personal agenda and apparent sexual orientation. Maybe there should be a recall election for the Sheriff's position.
Redneck
4 months agoWhen you go to a restaurant you go to eat. Nothing more and nothing less. These persons were seeking ATTENTION.
They new what type of reaction people were going to give them. Now they are screaming bloody murder. They forgot their manners at home. So sad.
123CARS
5 months agoPlease Login or Register to post comments