L Word actress ‘escorted off plane for lesbian kiss’
Leisha Hailey, who starred in the US lesbian drama The L Word, says she was kicked off a Southwest Airlines flight after a row over kissing her girlfriend.
The actress and singer was with her partner on a flight between Baltimore and St Louis when the incident happened.
She tweeted yesterday: “I have been discriminated against by @SouthwestAir. Flt. attendant said that it was a ‘family’ airline and kissing was not ok.
Hailey added: “We were escorted off the plane for getting upset about the issue.@SouthwestAir endorses homophobic employees. No one made her accountable.”
She has demanded a public apology and a refund from Southwest Airlines and is urging other gay people to boycott the airline.
Southwest Airlines states on its website that it is the official carrier of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
A representative for the airline told TMZ.com that passengers complained that the couple’s behaviour was “excessive”.
The spokesperson added: “Our crew, responsible for the comfort of all customers on board, approached the passengers based solely on behaviour and not gender. The conversation escalated to a level that was better resolved on the ground, as opposed to in flight.
“We are ready to work directly with the passengers involved to offer our heartfelt apologies for falling short of their expectation.”
