December 10, 2012
Chilean Court Fines Motel for Anti-Gay Discrimination
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 1 MIN.
SANTIAGO, Chile - A court in Chile has slapped a fine on a motel that banned entry to a gay couple in the first ruling associated with a new-antidiscrimination law.
The judge ordered the motel on Friday to pay a $4,000 fine to a lesbian couple and ordered motel owners to never again forbid people from renting a room based on their sexual orientation.
Chile's leading gay rights group is calling it a victory for equality. The gay rights group Movilh filed suit against the motel after the anti-discrimination law was signed into law by President Pinera in July.
The law was approved after the brutal killing of a young gay man in March set off a national debate about hate crimes.
