Lesbian Actress Escorted off Southwest Flight for ‘Excessive’ Affection With Partner
- Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:37am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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In this April 18, 2009, file photo, actress Leisha Hailey appears on stage to accept an award at the 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles. (Photo: AP)
(The Blaze/AP) — A lesbian actress who starred in “The L-Word” said she kissed a girl – and got escorted off of a Southwest Airlines flight on Monday for doing it.
Leisha Hailey took to Twitter to call for a boycott of the carrier after a flight attendant told them other passengers had complained after witnessing the affection.
Her first tweet said: “I have been discriminated against.” She later added, “Since when is showing affection to someone you love illegal?” And it continued from there:
Southwest Airlines Co. responded on its website that Hailey was approached “based solely on behavior and not gender.” The airline’s four-sentence response said passengers were characterizing the behavior as excessive:
Initial reports indicate that we received several passenger complaints characterizing the behavior as excessive. Our crew, responsible for the comfort of all Customers on board, approached the passengers based solely on behavior and not gender. The conversation escalated to a level that was better resolved on the ground, as opposed to in flight. We regret any circumstance where a passenger does not have a positive experience on Southwest and we are ready to work directly with the passengers involved to offer our heartfelt apologies for falling short of their expectations.
A discussion followed on the flight, and the airline said it “escalated to a level that was better resolved on the ground.”
Hailey was a musician before joining the cast of the Showtime drama featuring the lives of lesbian friends and lovers living in Los Angeles. She played the character Alice Pieszecki.
The actress and her unidentified girlfriend were on a flight from Baltimore to St. Louis. The kissing occurred in the air and a discussion followed when the plane landed.
Hailey said the encounter between the couple and a flight attendant was recorded.
A message seeking comment from Halley’s spokeswoman, Libby Coffey, was not immediately returned.
Southwest’s website says it is the official airline of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
Herndon Graddick, senior director of programs at GLAAD, said in an email that “GLAAD contacted Southwest to call for additional actions beyond tonight’s statement that ensure all customers feel comfortable and welcomed while traveling.”
Earlier this month, the Dallas-based airline kicked off Green Day’s lead man Billie Joe Armstrong for wearing his pants too low. The Grammy winner was escorted off a plane after failing to follow a flight attendant’s directive to pull the pants up.
Southwest also removed director Kevin Smith from a flight last year because he didn’t fit properly in a single seat. His first tweet read, “Dear (at)SouthwestAir I know I’m fat, but was (the) captain (…) really justified in throwing me off a flight for which I was already seated?”
Halley is preparing to launch a 21-city tour to promote breast cancer awareness.
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Comments (326)
tobywil2
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:14amThe real tragedy is the publicity (that her talent dosen’t justify) afforded this person. http://commonsense21c.com/
Report Post »DV
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 6:11pmGood point.
Report Post »azsun
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:12amWell I will always fly southwest. I am disappointed they did not kick her off the plane after they were in flight though. Another Holy-Wood throw your beliefs down our throats story.
Report Post »paulusmaximus
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:46amI don’t often fly, but the next time I do I will check to see if the place I am going is serviced by Southwest. good job SW
Report Post »Michael912
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:59amThe funny part is that she says she’s been discriminated against, according to the story, the attendant went to talk to her, probably just to tell her to stop. I bet she got mouthy with the attendant and THAT’S why she got kicked off. I don’t sit and make out with my wife in public like that, why the hell should they?
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 11:55amI fly Southwest (my credit card is a Southwest VISA, too). This story reinforces my choice. Bravo Zulu, Southwest!
Report Post »dabbo
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 1:22pmSouthwest will cave in and apologize to her…..companies and corporations always do.
Report Post »alina.bolero
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:10amHahaha … too funny. The business is within their right to decide what is acceptable behavior of their customers.
I once got thrown out of a sports bar for “too passionately” kissing my partner at the bar! My partner got upset, but I just figured “eh … we must be at the wrong bar then”.
There are plenty of places where there are people just like you, that will welcome you with open arms. GO THERE! … and stop your whining!
If you can’t find an airline that likes your graphic displays of lesbian affection, and you can’t wait for the duration of the flight to get frisky, THEN DRIVE!!!!!
Report Post »NewAmericanist
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:43amNice.
Report Post »Alaredneck
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 1:18pmYou said it perfectly.
Report Post »The Third Archon
Posted on September 29, 2011 at 4:23amStory of Jim Crow
Report Post »“If you don’t like the segregated businesses (institutions, etc.), then shop at businesses that aren’t segregated and let the market decide!”
“But, there AREN‘T any businesses that aren’t segregated here!”
“I’m sorry, that’s not my problem.”
DV
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 6:53pmYou’re exactly right. Besides the kids who will have to see that, and their parents, there are men on that flight too. We men are always catching flak from lesbians because so many men love lesbian eroticism, so why do these two girls see the need to cast their pearls in front of men they consider the swine Hey, I’m not much different from most men, but try explaining that behavior to your kid who might be all of 5 or 6 years old! omg … how embarrassing … ? A public place is simply not the place to do this.
Report Post »BubbaCoop
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:10am“Leisha Hailey”
Who?
Report Post »jujubeebee
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:59amEXACTLY! and who cares!
Report Post »demint.disciple
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 10:55amHailey
Report Post »GrannyATL
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 11:58amExactly is right. Her reputation seems to revolve around being a Lesbian Activist. This whole thing was staged in an attempt to get publicity.
In their feeble minds, homosexual behavior has to be tolerated, no matter how crass or objectionable?
Heteros can’t behave any way they want in public. Why should you? Sorry, Ms. Hailey, but you are a self-absorbed brat. Get over yourself and have whatever kind of sexual relationship you want……in the privacy of your own home.
Report Post »Discord
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 7:57pmLady from the L Word. Which I honestly think is a horrible show, as it makes transsexuals look really horrible and doesn’t do any favors in that respect for the LGBT acronym.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:08amPeople don’t really care what you do in the bedroom sweetheart. Just keep it in the bedroom and quit putting it in the other passenger’s face. You hurt your own cause with this behavior. Same goes for the “pride” parades. You want a parade? that’s fine, just quit dressing up like Cher or running around half naked.
Report Post »Brizz
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 12:33pmAlso, if this actress wants to boycott SWA, she’ll be hurting many gay employees. She speaks for nobody but herself.
Report Post »jweb223
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 11:33pmUltimate description of ‘gay pride’:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7PFdF3J0TE
Report Post »DV
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 6:55pmRight!
Report Post »hadassah333
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:06amlesbians as well as **** men belong in prison a hospital or as “evolution” dictates eliminated from the pool. It is as ungodly and detrimental to society as pedophilia and beastiality. Quera should be jailed for kissing in front of children at the least.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:31amI think they are already eliminated, as they do not procreate the way normal people do.
Report Post »encinom
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 10:28amWhat a great Christian you are, to bad you have no idea what it means to have the personal freedom of an American.
Report Post »GrannyATL
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 12:05pmEncinmom, you really can’t help yourself — can you? This story has nothing to do with freedom. It has everything to do with common decency. Anyone — heterosexual or homosexual — who openly displays over-the-top affection in public should be told to go get a room.
This is an excellent example of why homosexuals get a bad rap — they push the envelope in order to create a scene and then whine about the chaos they create.
Report Post »Discord
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 7:54pmWe adopt kids and give them chances at good lives.
Report Post »People who give birth just add to the crowd.
It’s kind of like how cats need to be fixed to avoid too many unwanted/stray kittens. In fact, it’s exactly like that.
AvengerK
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:08pmDISCORD…put the crackpipe down kid. Homosexuality needs a third party to “procreate”. If they didn‘t get any help in that they’d be a deadend. Grow up clownshoes.
Report Post »Cosmos102
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 11:34pmYou’re right Encinom… Passengers deserve the freedom to watch live Gay sex on plane flights. Who do these Southwest bastards think they are?
Report Post »Marcia
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:04amBoycott? Hell no! I’m booking my next flight on them!! Homosexuality is still a sin and a perversion and should not be flaunted.
Report Post »Bloody Sam
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:11am“Since when is showing affection to someone you love illegal?”
It’s not. But Southwest Airlines is a private business and she was on their property.
They can do as they please and have the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason.
This is a concept that Libertarians take to heart but Liberal Neo-Fascists just can’t seem to wrap their heads around.
Report Post »demint.disciple
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 10:57am@Bloody Sam.. Even if they are Black ?
Report Post »AlmostaCowboy
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 11:23am@demint-desciple – Yep. Black lesbians don’t have any more rights than “normal” lesbians. hahahahahahahahahaahah – “NORMAL” Lesbians! hahahahahahahahahahaha!
Report Post »Islesfordian
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 1:23pmI’ve got a new slogan for Southwest:
“Let us fly you STRAIGHT to your destination”
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 8:10pmIsles…that made me laugh..thanks
Report Post »Sara72
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:03amAnyone else notice that SouthWest is being targeted ALOT lately…. as far as this woman goes… WE ALL DONT WANT TO SEE YOUR PDA… I dont care if its a woman and a man, 2 women, 2 men… its NOT appropriate… Good On ya Southwest!
Report Post »yougottabekidding
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:15amPlease announce for sure that you are boycotting them so I know which Airline to fly. I want to exercise my right of association, I’m sure anyone you boycott will gain ridership from people that do not want to be subjected to your obnoxious behavior.
Report Post »BOGOTSTOGO
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:02amSince when has public kissing been a family value? I am sick of these homos engaging in there sinful behavior in public and then calling me a homophobe when I say I don’t want to see it. SWA is my new favorite Airline
Report Post »Discord
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 7:58pmThe term ‘family values’ needs to die.
Report Post »Or at least be used correctly. I’m absolutely sick of hearing it thrown around; it means exactly the opposite of what it should nowadays.
AvengerK
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:09pmNo DISCORD..family values doesn’t need to die. Homosexual militancy is what needs to die.
Report Post »DV
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 7:01pmI just don’t want my kids to see it. Or yours either! I don’t want my kids being exposed to sex AT ALL straight, lesbian or otherwise. You know some lesbians have kids, would you want your kids seeing you doing this in a public place? Please try to be civilized and sensitive to others. Surely most lesbians can understand this.
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:01amGood for the promoting breast cancer awareness.
Report Post »STUPID for the slobbering make-out session on a plane to try and make some gay pride statement. It is that dishonest behavior, the obvious demonstration in public of extreme affection just for political effect and as social statement that is the focus here.
Typical same sex proselytizing.
Legal Immigrant
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:57amIf you want to join the Mile-High Club?
Don’t get caught stoopid.
Report Post »Dstarr55
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:57amQuite frankly a kiss would not garner attention – I would bet it was more intense than just one kiss. Such open displays of passion would be inappropriate regardless if it was two women, two men or a man and a woman. If she has video (in all fairness the video would have to show the behavior prior to being approached by the attendant) then let the video speak for itself. In public, showing affection is one thing, passionately kissing and almost making love is another. Before blaming this on ‘gay bashing’ I would want to know the truth – was it a kiss or much more?
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:57amIsn’t it spelled “off”…spell check won’t catch that. Oh well.
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:56amHaving sex on an airplane full of kids is pretty ignorant of what others feel as well. The lawsuit should be against her for “child abuse”.
BTW, Southwest is a private company and can tell whites, Christians, Lesbians, Muslims, blacks or whomever to get off their planes.
Report Post »demint.disciple
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 11:03amNo they can, not with the laws in this country… I’m sure somewhere in the south if they had (today) a whites only section in a diner or colored not allowed, what do you think would happen ?? Your statement is not true..
Report Post »Chet Hempstead
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:06pmWho said they were having sex? She said they were kissing, and whatever they were doing nobody said they were having sex. Anyway if her girlfriend is as attractive as she is, I’d want to escort the people who complained off of the flight, but don’t bother landing first on my account.
Report Post »STANDUPorSHUTUP
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:54amSouthwest has just become my official airline.
Report Post »DV
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 6:46pmSouthWest was always a really fun airline to fly.The stewardesses and stewards were encouraged to tell jokes… clean jokes, of course, and have fun. The stewardesses wore mini-skirts, not mini-mini skirts, but tight skirts with knee high boots.
Report Post »Even the pilots told tell jokes … it was great … but always in good fun and good taste.They were never
prudish. Years ago I knew that lesbians would start this demanding the right to kiss in public. I‘m only surprised they’ve only started recently. You could see this coming years ago. I used to think, what’s going to happen on some airliner when the lezbos start smooching and some little boy or girl says , “mommy, those two women are kisssing! I mean, try explaning that. Really you’re being forced to explain it to a child. That’s why they may have the right to display some level of affection in public places, but they no longer feel the need to keep it low-profile. This is how arrogant and insensitive to others the militant lezbos and gaybos have become, and it seems their “right” to kiss in public is more important than your child’s mental health, or right to keep your child safe from disturbing or erotic public displays and images. Actually I know some lesbians who would agree with me: they don’t think anyone has the right to take the public displays of affection too far. At a minimum, I know lesbians who would think that it’s insensitive to others to others and, at a minimum, unwise to carry on like that in public.
BrandyWilson
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:54amHooray Southwest…I feel for the folks who were forced (due to the close quarters of the plane) who were subjected that public behavior…Choices have Consequences!
Report Post »MySacredHonor
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:53amThe twits make it sound like it was an employee who complained, but it seems to be passagers who spoke up… how is this SW fault?
As for the guy with his pants down… more power to um, that crap is stupid anyway. Anyone know where that “fashion” comes from ? Prison… it means you are available for “personal services” (i think you know what i mean, but i’m trying to keep it clean)
And if you don’t believe me, look at rappers who have actually been in prison as oppose to those who haven’t… the ones who were actually in jail know what that means, and wear a belt… the poser don’t
As for Kevin Smith, i feel your pain brother,(i’m not exactly skinny myself) but if you dont fit in the seat you don’t fit in the seat…
Report Post »yougottabekidding
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:08amEver notice that the vulger displays are usually from the gay community. So explain to me why I have to know you are gay, I do not care. Some how when going through channels caught part of a gay pride parade. NOW THAT IS SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF.
Report Post »Watch the decline in the military!
commies suck
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:52amThis is what happens when you make another “protected” class of people, they shed common courtesy and common sense because after all, they are “better” than the rest of us. John Wayne hit the nail on the head years ago. Check this out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fuzLTrwVbc
Report Post »Blackhawk1
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:06amOnce again we have an example of a small minority group (gays) demanding that the majority accept their behavior. Wait until all the gays in the military start getting kicked out for sodomy. They will want to change the UCMJ to fit their chosen lifestyle.
Report Post »lvamervet
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 10:11am@BLACKHAWK……Think about this….
Are the troops going to accept two men walking around Base holding hands? Noooooo!
Is there going to be a problem when two men are making out in the bunk next to you? Yessssss!
How about the shower? Yessssssss!
How about the PX? Yesssssssss!
There have always been gay men and women in the Military……but rarely did anyone care because it was not openly desplayed……NOW WHAT??? The repeal of DADT was stupid and is going to cause unnecessary problems. Our government is so stupid…..they can’t see pass nose.
God Bless America and God Bless Our Troops!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »ZAP
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:49amSouth West RULES
Report Post »alrunner58
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:49amI don’t want to see same sex kissing, that is disturbing. All I can say is boycott!
Report Post »Welcome Black Carter
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 10:28amDid you read even the headline?
Report Post »demint.disciple
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 11:11am@Welcome Black Carter.. Agreed .. Thats ALL they read but took it AS a boycott.. What a boob. Comment on something and didn’t even read the story.. Thats a Libs behavior…
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:48amYou would be hard pressed to find an american [of any persuasion or race or gender or whatever] who has not been discriminated against for one reason or another. What makes you so special?
Report Post »TSUNAMI-22
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:54amWhat people need to start doing is filing lawsuits against heterosexual discrimination. Use their tactics against them. Fight fire with fire, or else society plunges deeper into the moral abyss.
If you’re gay, fine. Keep the stuff to yourself or deal with the consequences of day to day reality.
Report Post »Servant Of YHVH
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:01amI doubt that she was discriminated against. If she is like most of the other homosexuals there was probably two things she did. #1: She probably did it just to show off to the other flyers and #2 she probably had her tongue about two feet down her girlfriends throat. I have a daughter and a cousin who is homosexual and they would be the first to say that I would in no way discriminate against them or other homosexuals because God loves them too and if He does then so do I. However, a lot of homosexuals will do this as a “in your face” act towards non-homosexuals. If anyone questions my using homosexual instead of gay is because of literary accuracy. All homosexuals are homosexual and I know a LOT of homosexuals that are not gay because gay means having or showing a merry, lively mood; happy, joyful, etc. And they can try to change the meanings of words in the English language but that doesn‘t mean that I accept their changes since I believe that they don’t have to power to change the meanings of words. If they are ashamed with using the terminology that describes them then they shouldn’t choose that lifestyle.
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:16amTsunami
Report Post »Agreed. I wonder if they would take us serious. fire with fire sounds good to me.
Discord
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 7:55pmTsunami, the problem with that is that there is very little heterosexual discrimination. Most gay and lesbian folks are just fine with people being heterosexual and acting as such. I’d know.
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:11pmHere’s a clue DISCORD..heterosexuals don’t “act” heterosexual. they ARE heterosexual. But more importantly…they don’t use it as an identity.
Report Post »TSUNAMI-22
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:38pm@ Discord
Tsunami, the problem with that is that there is very little heterosexual discrimination. Most gay and lesbian folks are just fine with people being heterosexual and acting as such. I’d know.
Report Post »~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maybe one of the reasons that gay and lesbian people are fine with heterosexual people acting like such is because heterosexual people don’t wield it like a knife in order to make a political statement or garner preferential treatment?
TSUNAMI-22
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:47amGood for SouthwestAir! I applaud discrimination when it has to do with enforcing common decency. What about all the other passengers who were discriminated against because they were held hostage to this spectacle?
If so many people complained then [most likely] it wasn’t just a casual kiss. They probably had their tongues down each others throats.
People have no shame anymore?
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:44amNasty ho.
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:44amBooking my flight right now!
Report Post »bandi9
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:39amand i am sure they would appreciate the fact that you will never fly southwest again. mission accomplished.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:41amIndeed, and as long as South West applies the same standards to all customers then there can be no claims of discrimination.
Report Post »decendentof56
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:46amDrop dead, you tramp.
Report Post »Black Knight
Posted on September 27, 2011 at 12:14pmLeave it to a Liberal to spotlight the Consrrvative ANTIDOTE to Obamunism and its entertainer-union-educator-media-litigator brainwashers and agitators: BOYCOTT them and any business that contributes funding or received federal funds that have not been repaid in full.
Report Post »