A lesbian bride-to-be was ‘refused’ a wedding dress after the owner discovered her sexual orientation, a report claimed. Continue reading after the jump.
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Alix Genter says she was refused her dream dress from a New Jersey bridal boutique after the store’s manager found out she was a lesbian and insulted her about her pending ‘illegal action.’
The Rutgers graduate says she was refused the dress at Here Comes the Bride.
Speaking to ABC news, store owner Donna Saber denies the allegations.
Mrs Saber said the row happened after she called Miss Genter to ask why the word ‘groom’ had been crossed out and the word ‘partner’ written in instead.
She said: ‘When I mentioned it to her, ‘Oh, I see you crossed out groom and put in partner,’ I got a barrage.
‘I literally got a barrage of ‘bigot’ and other really cruel words…I might be the kind of person that when you get at me, I might continue the fight, and maybe I shouldn’t say this, but I have my beliefs.
‘I did say that I, to the best of my knowledge in the state of New Jersey, that we do operate in New Jersey.
‘If she had remained calm, I would have been able to tell her, that it’s illegal, it’s an illegal action, that her marriage was illegal in NJ.”
While same-sex marriage is illegal in New Jersey, civil partnerships are recognised.
Mrs Saber added she was concerned about serving Miss Genter from the outset.
She added: ‘It was clear she was going to be a difficult customer.
‘It started when I told her no eating was allowed, the dresses are white, you know.
‘Lots of stores do that. You know, I thought ‘I don’t want to deal with this one.”
speaking to the station, Kathryn Hamm from GayWeddings.com, said ‘It’s not surprising that this happened, but the good news is that it’s happening with less frequency among wedding vendors in the industry.
‘For what it’s worth, I can understand how vendors who haven’t considered this issue may not be in favour of it – it feels scary and intimidating.’
Mrs Genter plans to wed her long-time partner in a civil union in New Jersey, before following this up with a full marriage in New York.