Michigan Wal-Mart bans gay couple for life

November 8, 6:11 PMInternational LGBT Issues ExaminerKelvin Lynch

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Wal-Mart under seige for banning gay couple
AP

A Wal-Mart in the tiny town of Niles, Michigan has banned a gay couple from the entire chain of stores for life.  The banning follows an incident on August 16 when the couple reportedly  "caused a scene" and were placed in police custody after being accused of stealing some Bic lighters, which later turned out to be a false allegation.  Wal-Mart is now demanding the couple pay 10 times the value of the lighters to settle the matter, but the couple has refused.

According to the South Bend Tribune, the couple, Joe Paolucci and his partner, Thomas Hitchcock, were shopping at the Niles Wal-Mart with their twin boys, who are both special needs children from Romania. The couple, both attorneys, live in Chicago but own a home, a small shop called Front, and some investment property in nearby Buchanan.

The couple and the twins paid at separate registers - Paolucci at a cashier and Hitchcock at a self-checkout - when they were approached by Wal-Mart employees who insisted that Hitchcock had not scanned the lighters, worth $15.84  Video surveillance tapes clearly showed Hitchcock scanning and paying for the lighters. 

When they were approached by Wal-Mart staffers, Paolucci insisted the police be called, thinking they would be helpful in resolving the matter.  Instead, Paolucci was instantly handcuffed without questioning and placed in a squad car.  Hitchcock was also put in a sqaud car, but not handcuffed.  According to the couple, the boys were "crying, screaming, and freaking out."

The police said when they arrived, Paolucci and Hitchcock were "causing a scene, being loud and disrupting customers."  The twin boys were taken to a detention room by Wal-Mart security, where one of them claims he was pushed by a guard.  The couple also claim the boys were subjected to disparaging remarks about their dads' "lifestyle" by Wal-Mart security agents. 

The manager on duty at Wal-Mart finally came out with a letter which informed Paolucci and Hitchcock they were banned for life from every Wal-Mart store worldwide.  The reason for the banning was not shoplifting (which could not be proven), but for "being uncooperative".  Paolucci says he and Hitchcock were cooperative with Wal-Mart staff in every way.

The couple attempted to press charges against Wal-Mart employees and Sherriff's deputies but were unsuccessful. The local prosecutor told reporters he found no basis for action.

Paolucci and Hitchcock claim their special-needs twins were traumatized by the events, having nightmares about a particular Wal-Mart security guard.  Their medications have been changed twice since the incident, said Paolucci.

Is this a case of discrimination against a gay couple in a small town, or simply punishment for "being disruptive"?  The fact that Wal-Mart is demanding 10 times payment for the lighters, which were proven not to have been shoplifted, is telling - would a straight couple be forced to admit to something they didn't do?

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