Dear PoP – Verbal Attack on Gay Couple at Safeway in SW

Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

“Dear PoP,

I just moved from NW to SW and I’m loving the new Safeway by me, but I was really disappointed to read this in the Metro Weekly:

‘We put our groceries up on the conveyer belt, some frozen dinner and wine, and [the cashier] said, ‘Oh God, they’re faggots,”’ says Morgan. ”And then Brendan said, ‘I’m sorry I didn’t hear what you said.’ And she said ‘You guys are fucking faggots.”’

Had you heard about this? This poor couple is shopping at the 14th & P Whole Foods now just to avoid the humiliation of walking back into that Safeway.”

This is the first I’ve heard. I saw on twitter last night that MetroWeekly posted a video apology from the cashier.

This is a supremely sad situation. It is appalling, frustrating, and like I said, really really sad. It always amazes me when slurs like this are still used in 2011. There is still a lot of hate and ignorance in the world.

I really don’t mean to be insensitive but I wonder if Safeway and/or local groups/politicians (ANC, Civic groups, CM Tommy Wells) can take advantage of this situation and start an education campaign or simply a set of meetings where people meet each other in a casual setting. Maybe I’m being unrealistic. What the cashier said is beyond appalling but I wonder how much of it comes from hate or how much comes from ignorance? I’m disgusted by this whole episode and I hope nobody has to encounter such a painful experience again.