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No Kissing On American Airlines?

by Adrienne Wilson (RSS feed) on Sep 26th 2006 at 10:34AM

It's been almost a year since the shocking Lorrie Heasley story. Remember the woman removed from a Southwest Airlines flight in Reno when she refused to take off or cover her offensive "Meet the F*ckers" shirt? It caused quite a stir then, and as of late, another airline has been raising a ruckus in the gay community it seems. The New Yorker runs a rather detailed piece on an incident where George Tsikhiseli, a television journalist, and his writer boyfriend, Stephan Varnier, were told the plane would be diverted if they did not drop the issue of touching and kissing on the plane.

Let me backtrack. The two passengers were on their way back into NYC from Paris when Varnier started dozing off and leaned his head on his partner Tsikhiseli. A stewardess came over and told them the purser said to stop the touching and kissing. The two passengers noted there was no kiss kissing, just mwah (smacking sound). When questioned, the purser also became rigid on the subject. Later, the purser informed Tsikhiseli that the captain would like to talk to him. The captain informed Tsikhiseli that if he didn't stop arguing with the crew, the plane would be diverted. Now, what I've just provided is a very through-the-grapevine look at the story, so I suggest you read the entire deal over at the New Yorker.

If power truly rests in numbers and this story were to get into the hands of the entire gay community, I would think American Airlines screwed up, but overall the situation just sounds overly bizarre.

via WorldHum

Filed under: Stories, North America, United States, Airlines

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)

Craig McGinty Sep 27th 2006 4:50AM

Does that mean no kissing when on holiday as well?

http://www.aavacations.com/Rainbow/

Dre Sep 30th 2006 8:21PM

You have got to be kidding meAs if there is'nt enough in this world to worry about, I'll never fly American Air again, Just on Principal

sarah Sep 30th 2006 9:54PM

This whole story sounds so ridiculous, i mean to be honest nobody wants to see any couple making out on a plane whether they are straight and even more so if they are gay-nobody should be subjected to it.

Matthew Sep 30th 2006 8:29PM

This is the dumbest thing Ive ever heard of. If the airline does have a no kissing policy then it should be for gays and straights. This is the dumbest thing Ive ever heard of!

Ross Bennett Sep 30th 2006 8:31PM

WHAAAAAAAAAA!!!! Airlines have gone too over the top with all issues since 911. The couple was in no way harming anybody and had every reason to voice their opions when confronted on this matter. Well...I will NOT book with American Airlines again. Please......diverting the aircraft and making the entire plane suffer due to a couple being affectionate.

Tom Oct 2nd 2006 12:21AM

American Airlines and its crew are not very tolerable to different kinds of people, one can only assume. Strange, since at least 1/2 the stewards are gay /and or bisexual. I smell a "gay and bisexual boycott" and who could or would blame them? In this day in age, homophobic and racist and sexist attitudes should be gone with the past ignorances!!!! Peace.

Jami Sep 30th 2006 8:42PM

Oh wow. This is the most petty thing, the most STUPID thing I have ever heard of. That's truely sad. What's wrong with them being compassionate with each other. You know, people say in their religions that gay's and lesbian's are going AGAINST God's wishes or rules or whatever. But God made love. If he didn't want people to be a certain sexuality then there would be no such thing as love. Or sex. Or marrage. GET OVER YOURSELVES. Gay's and lesbians have as much rights as straight people do. The only thing different is that it's the same sex. Other then that, its two people showing their love for one another. I bet more then anything that if it was a straight couple everything would have been fine. Grow up and stop being so petty about everything and LET PEOPLE BE!!!

Ms. Rich Sep 30th 2006 8:47PM

I think this is an outrage! All of these new stipulations on planes is ridiculous. Kissing is only a way of showing affection. The plane wasn't gonna explode if they kissed. The plane crew was probably homophobic and only THEY did not approve of what was going on. My brother is gay and he flies all the time with his mate. So if they are gonna make this rule, it needs to apply to EVERYONE! I am very upset.

Christopher Sep 30th 2006 8:52PM

The Power Of Love Is A Curious Thing It can make one person weep or another sing. Heck, I'd rather sing then weep.

Chantel Sep 30th 2006 8:48PM

Well, I personally am not comfortable seeing any couple being too affectionate in public- straight, gay or lesbian. Their behavior doesn't offend me, but it does make me uncomfortable. And not to mention that I really don't want my children to see it. Very innapropriate for kids to see this in public in my opinion. But it does sound like the airline was overreacting a bit. Does anyone else hear the words "lawsuit" and "discrimination" coming? I'm sure they will pop up eventually over this type of issue.

Kandis Sep 30th 2006 8:50PM

I think the policy is ridiculous. They need to be more aware of people that mey be of danger to other passangers. If it is a policy it needs to be between straight & gay couples (period)

Greg Byrne Sep 30th 2006 10:30PM

I think that the no kissing policy is more sensible than the no smoking policy. Passengers find this sort of thing irritating whether gay or straight. In Melb we've had passengers on trains kssing and cuddling during the journey and this makes other passengers uncomfortable. Certain behaviours are unnacceptable in public. At the very least they are bad manners.

I think the airline is to be applauded for upholding the rights of the majority in this case.

John Sep 30th 2006 8:54PM

I am glad that the gay community has been shuned. There is nothing sicker than watching two men kissing and holding hands. GOOD FOR THE AIRLINES!

Michael Sep 30th 2006 8:57PM

If someone on the flight found the kissing to be offensive,then the airline had just as much right to tell them to stop as the other airline had to remove a passenger for an offensive shirt.

Overwhelmed Sep 30th 2006 9:00PM

Manners begins with the word Man; it takes to be a gentle Man to the end,to know how to behave in public so to respect other people's right to a non scandalous
sight on air,road,street or sea. GAY or Else!In this
so called Politically correct aworld ,Gay rules and imposes mortifying spectacles.

jaime Sep 30th 2006 9:04PM

I'm not gay, but would not like for anyone to tell me who to/not to kiss or when i wasn't allowed to do so. i'm flying to Fla. in Nov. i wonder if they'll be upset when i kiss my husband [of 30 yrs.] .. we don't make out [in public] , but we do touch and kiss often as is our right to show affection.would that be sexual discriminaton? get a lawyer..

Lee Sep 30th 2006 9:02PM

The bottomline is - this would not be an issue if it was heterosexual couple. The airlines had better stop imposing their personal iissues on what is or is not morally acceptable. Good Grief! It's a sign of the times I'm afraid. Next It'll be skirt lengths and no trousers on women and on...and on.. Sue the #++!!
and boycott/picket American. However, if you cause them a perceived loss of profit, you may be labled a terrorist. (not gay or lesbian, just tired of this garbage)

Elliott H. Smith Oct 2nd 2006 3:13PM

Personally, I would feel VERY uncomfortable seeing two males kissing on an airplane. And as for the financial power of the gay community, I think that American Airlines would be even more screwed up if it lost the support and patronage of the straight community.