Same Love

The owner of a bar on Montreal's West Island has apologized after his manager kicked out two young women for kissing.

Jess Goldberg was kicked out of a bar on Montreal's West Island for kissing another woman. (Facebook)

Jess Goldberg and CarolynShaughnessy, both in their early 20s, were out for drinks at LeManoir in Pointe-Claire last Friday.

Goldberg says they were approached by the manager and told to stop after they shared a kiss.

But Goldberg says that about two hours later, when they kissed again, they were asked to leave.

"I think I had my hand on her leg and she kissed me, and he came over even more frantic than the first time," she said.

Goldberg reacted by posting a complaint on Le Manoir’s Facebook page and on her own.

Jess Goldberg received a flood of online support after she posted this complaint on Facebook. (Facebook)

“This type of discrimination is repulsive … They kicked us out for being gay,” she wrote.

The bar’s page was soon flooded with support for the couple and calls for a boycott.

Goldberg says this would have never happened to a heterosexual couple.

"This has never ever happened to me in my life. I've been to bars downtown, in different cities and different countries and I've never been treated like this."

Le Manoir has since posted an apology on its website.

Le Manoir owner Peter Sergakis posted this apology on the bar's Facebook page on Monday. (Facebook)

Bar owner Peter Sergakis told CBC on Monday that his manager overreacted.

"If they were kissing as normal, two people kissing one another, it's unacceptable to tell them to leave," he said.

Sergakis also owns the Sky complex — one of North America’s largest gay bars — located in Montreal’s Gay Village.

Sergakis says that the way his manager behaved does not reflect his values, and his bars are open to all members of the LGBT community. 

I am connecting this article to the song Same Love because the song talks about being gay and hiding who you truly are. This couple shouldn't have been kicked out of the bar just because it was two girls kissing. If it was a boy and a girl, the manager wouldn't have cared and he would have let them do as they please. They shouldn't have to hide their true feelings, if they want to kiss or hold hands, they should be allowed. Our society needs to grow up and learn how to accept people for who they are. Not everyone is going to be like how you want them to be because everyone is different. Just because someone prefers a gender that is different then what you like doesn't make them any less important. A boy who likes a boy, or a girl who likes a girl, are still human beings who have feelings and should be respected. People throughout the world have made it uncomfortable for people to come out as they truly are. A lot of them hide their feelings because they know they will be judged. But we need to learn to have a open mind and accept people as they are, and not try to change them.