I have been giving this business a chance for roughly a year but always felt I was being treated poorly by the male owner. About a year ago, I was speaking to my girlfriend on my cell and it was obvious He was listening in on that conversation. Ever since that day, when I have chanced to use this place to wash my clothes, I noticed a difference in the way he treats me vs. other customers.
So fast forward to today. I go in to do my laundry this morning and the change machine eats my $10 bill. Okay, no problem, it's 8:30 am, someone should be coming in around 9AM- I should get my money back, no problem? Wrong. The owner comes in, I tell him about the machine, He tells me He'll "check it out"... approximately 15 minutes goes by and I wait. Meanwhile, I had to use my $20 bill in the other change machine to dry my laundry. Then I watch as the owner CONTINUES to make me wait and helps other WHITE, STRAIGHT customers that are bringing in laundry to be washed. Then he starts up a conversation with ANOTHER WHITE CUSTOMER, that is washing her laundry...Meanwhile, I'm still waiting for my money to be returned.
So, I finally tell the owner that "I need my money back please". He then tells me, "He'll get to it when he has as moment, " while he continues to weigh and prepare the other customers' laundry to be washed.
I told him that, "I'm sorry but I've been waiting a long time, I'd like my money back now." The owner then tells me: "You're still doing your laundry and waiting anyway. I'll get to it when I have a moment. Be Civil"
THAT IS WHEN I GOT MAD! So that is when I told him what I had observed: That all of the WHITE customers had been helped but I was here first and had been waiting. He then tries to ignore me and continue with weighing the other customers' laundry. I told him again, " I want my money back and I bet if I had blonde hair and blue eyes, I wouldn't be waiting this long."
By this time the WHITE lady that was washing her laundry, decides to chime in " Guess your having a bad day!".
Now, I ask you, HOW WOULD YOU HAVE FELT?? I GOT MAD. PERIOD. I told the other lady that she was treated well and I'm STILL waiting for my money to be returned. Then another WOMAN OF COLOR just happens to come in. I told her everything that had happened. She listened because she understood what I was talking about. SHE was "OF COURSE", treated well by the owner. So which is it Sir? Is it because you know I'm Gay or because my skin is brown? OR both??
I AM CERTAIN that I was 'CIVIL' until I was DISCRIMINATED AGAINST. I was not rude or loud or mad until TREATED DIFFERENTLY than the other WHITE customers that came in AFTER me. I was treated like I was UNWELCOME WITHOUT JUST CAUSE.
RACISM can be subtle. I am a very understanding, compassionate, out, lesbian American of Mexican heritage. This was so blatant that today is the FIRST day in YEARS that I felt like I was living in another era where people without light skin had to 'sit at the back of the bus'.
I'm certain that the male OWNER of this business will be sure to treat ALL customers EQUALLY from here on; which, of course, He will assert has been done all along.
I'm not standing for it in 2012 Sir, not by a long shot. Don't give racism your cash people. This DID happen, I felt strongly enough about this incident to document it here. read more