A gay couple have reportedly been refused a couple’s treatment at a salon in Woodford Green due to their sexuality.
According to the report in the Guardian Series paper Paul Creane and Jhon Jairo Yepes Giraldo say staff at the Sapphire salon denied them treatment as the salon has a company policy not to treat two men together.
When Creane went to the salon to complain he was told: ‘We have apologised to you, and you can come for a treatment, but not with your husband. Bring a female friend instead’.
However Shanila Ghani, who owns Sapphire, says they are lying and she claims that staff called the police because they felt threatened when Mr Creane visited the salon to complain.
She said: “These allegations of homophobia are completely fake.
“I have a lot of gay friends and we treat anyone no matter if they are gay or straight.
“The only thing is if a new male client asks for a massage we always say you can only do it if you are accompanied by a female.
“That is because we have had some very bad experiences previously and for the safety of our staff – who are all female – we don’t allow new male clients in unless they are with a woman.”
Mr Creane says he reported the salon to the police for homophobia last night, as well as gay rights group Stonewall.
