Tim Hortons Says No Discrimination Occurred After Manager Asked Gay Couple To Leave For “Behaviour That Made Other Guests Feel Uncomfortable;” In Response Gay Rights Activists Calling For “Occupy Timmies” This Thursday

There was no discrimination involved when a Tim Hortons manager asked a gay couple to leave his Blenheim, Ontario restaurant last month, Tim Hortons says. In response to a nation-wide protest being organized via Facebook and news releases Monday morning, The London Free Press reports that Tim Hortons issued a statement saying all families and communities are welcome at its restaurants. "The guests' behaviour went beyond public displays of affection and was making other guests feel uncomfortable," said the e-mail statement sent to the London Free Press in response to messages left with Tim Hortons. "The management has apologized to Riley and Patricia and invite them back to their restaurant. We apologize if (they) were offended by the misunderstanding that occurred at our Blenheim restaurant last month on behalf of the owners and management. It was not the manager's intention to offend or target anyone based on their sexual orientation." Area social justice activists are organizing a nationwide Tim Hortons protest after the couple said they were kicked out of a Blenheim coffee shop last month. The Occupy Timmies movement, posted on Facebook late Sunday night has been gaining steam -- with nearly 300 members signed up Monday morning. Organizers are asking supporters to gather at the Blenheim restaurant Thursday for a "public demonstration against the discriminatory practices of this Tim Hortons location." Those who can't make it are urged to protest such practices outside Timmies in their own city as a show of solidarity. The incident happened about three weeks ago, while the couple -- two women -- were sitting in the restaurant with family members. "We were there for coffee," said Riley Murphy, one of the women asked to leave. "A manager came over and said what we were doing wasn't acceptable, it was a family friendly environment, and we had to leave within five minutes or the cops would be called," she said. "We were shocked. We left because the whole family was there." The unacceptable behaviour, the manager told them, was touching, holding hands and making out. The women say they only shared a single kiss in front of one of their moms. "We want to make it clear to our gay neighbours and visitors and everybody else that is not acceptable," said Tracy Lamourie, a Blenheim social justice activist leading the charge with her husband. In a news release sent to media Monday morning, protest organizers said the incident was triggered by the minister of a local Pentecostal church called Glad Tidings. The release said the minister stared the couple down, complained about the couple to a manager and later held an impromptu prayer service for the couple in the parking lot, according to the release. But a member of the church congregation contacted The Free Press to dispute such claims. "The reverend was there with his family and the couple was on top of each other, making out," said Tyler Williams, 21, of Tilbury. "He didn't even know it was two women," said Williams. "There was no stare-down, no prayers ... and now he's getting death threats." The Free Press has left a message for the reverend at Glad Tidings Community Church. "I'm gay, and I've been bullied all my life, and I believe that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender - whatever you are - you have the right to be there, but the fact that anyone was making out in (the restaurant) was offensive," said Williams.