A gay couple has complained about a Christian painter who allegedly turned them down for house decor because of their sexual orientation.
Joshua and George, who did not want their last names used, described how the merchant texted them to tell them that she was unable to complete the task because of “recommended guidelines” at her church. Joshua, 23, described himself as “stunned” and “seething” in posts that have been viewed and shared thousands of times on Twitter.
In an effort to spread awareness about homophobia, the pair claims they have subsequently filed a complaint with the trade website where they discovered her services.
However, despite widespread calls for them to reveal the identity of the offending decorator, they acknowledged that they were worried about social media users “naming and shaming” them.
Joshua and George have complained about a painter who refused to decorate their house because of their sexuality. The merchant woman apparently texted them saying she couldn’t get the job done due to “recommended guidelines” at her church.
The pair say they have since filed a complaint with the trading website where they found her services, hoping it will raise awareness about homophobia
Joshua told LGBTQ magazine Attitude: “I don’t necessarily feel comfortable holding the doors and opening the floodgates. I have this person’s details. If I wanted to, yes, I could release them.
“But to be honest, something I’m aware of is I don’t really want to be the facilitator in what is now thousands of people who could potentially go to this person.
“That individual, as much as we don’t respect her, doesn’t deserve to be piled up.”
Joshua and his 26-year-old partner wanted their bedroom painted in the two-bedroom house in Bristol they bought last June.
After finding the decorator online, Joshua asked her for a quote, but claims to have changed her attitude when he mentioned George.
“We were in the master bedroom when she asked if my partner was there and I replied ‘no he’s not’ that at first I thought something was wrong,” he told ITV News.
The woman then allegedly left the premises and hours later sent the message, which Joshua shared on Twitter last week.
Alongside a screenshot of the text, he wrote: “Just another day in the life of a practicing gay – a craftsman who outright refuses to paint/decorate because of my sexuality.”
The couple did not respond to the decorator, but complained to the website on which she was advertised.
Joshua said they weren’t asking for anything political like painting a pride rainbow, adding, “We just wanted a normal, boring paint job.”
Supporters have been urging them to take legal action under the Equalities Act 2010, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, but they are not currently eager to take such a serious step.
