Lesbian couple refused dance classes because it’d make others ‘awkward’
Michelle King and Amanda Shelton believe they were discriminated against because they are lesbians. (KTRK-TV)
A lesbian couple from Missouri believe they were discriminated against when a dance company refused to provide them with classes.
Michelle King and Amanda Shelton booked lessons at Prestige Ballroom in St. Louis in the run-up to their wedding, reports ABC’s local-affiliate KTRK-TV.
Shelton had bought King a Groupon for the classes so they could prepare for their big day.
But King said that the dance instructor, Dave Thompson, refused their business because they are lesbians.
Couple claim they were refused dance classes because they are lesbians
“He was like ‘we don’t have accommodations for same-sex couples to dance’,” King told KTRK-TV.
“It would make everyone in the room awkward.”
King continued: “I even asked it if was a faith-based dance studio, and he told me: ‘No, it has nothing to do with that.'”
“He was like ‘we don’t have accommodations for same-sex couples to dance’.”
—Michelle King
King, however, said that she and Shelton want to move on from the incident.
“I hope that on our wedding day we just get to dance our heart out,” she explained.
Dance instructor declines to comment on refusal of lesbian couple
Thompson refused to provide KTRK-TV with a comment over the incident, instead saying his legal team are looking into the matter.
“I can’t discuss it right now,” said Thompson.
“I’ll have to get with my legal counsel and have them get back with you.”
Watch KTRK-TV’s report on lesbian couple Michelle King and Amanda Shelton below:
Businesses in Missouri can legally refuse to serve same-sex couples on the grounds of religious freedom.
Prestige Ballroom does not state on its website that it excludes same-sex couples from its classes.
“At Prestige Ballroom Dancing, we employ a traditional approach to teaching adults to dance,” a description on the company’s Facebook Page reads.
“Our warm, friendly and patient instructors can help any novice become confident in ballroom dancing.
“We use the medium of ballroom, Latin, swing and other social dance forms to produce all forms of personal growth.”
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