Hello,
I am writing to express my dismay at your new “non-discriminatory” policy. The reason Air BnB works is because the host gets to approve anyone who wants to stay in the host’s home. As a host, I get to decide who comes into my home. If I get a bad feeling about someone’s reviews or exchange of emails, causing me to feel unsafe, I decline them. If they ask if they can smoke pot (which is legal in my state), I decline them. If I have a Christmas tree up and I don’t want a family with young children while the decorations are up, I decline them. If I don’t want pet hair all over my furnishings, I decline a guest who has a pet. If a bunch of college students want to party hardy at my place, I decline them. If I have a histrionic, angry guest that writes me hateful emails because she couldn’t figure out how to book my space and someone else beat her to the dates, I will decline her in all future requests. My right to allow entrance of a stranger into my home is exactly that… my right. THIS is why Air BnB works. I get to decide the kind of behavior I welcome, or decline. You call that judgement and prejudice, I call it wisdom learned from life experience and morals. I do not welcome LGBTQ behavior in my home, nor drunkenness, nor taking drugs. Note, these are BEHAVIORS, not ideology. And before you label me a homophobe (be careful -- you would be judging me inaccurrately!), know that I am very kind, courteous to and curious about every person I meet, including LGBTQ. I treat everyone with respect, but it is not my job to make them feel welcome if they are in fact, not welcome in my home. My home is not a public facility to be governed by fair housing laws. It is my home, and I get to choose my guests. I enjoy meeting all kinds of people and I’ve had a wonderful time hosting many guests, who report they feel like they are family and want to return.
You should be protecting the hosts’ rights, not dictating an “if you don’t play our way, we’re taking the ball and going home” policy. In your efforts to promote tolerance, you have just become intolerant of anyone who doesn’t see this issue like you do or agree to your policy! Good grief! Why would you mess up the good thing you’ve had going? Couldn’t you just allow the laws of the locality, state and nation to govern the AirBnB community, instead of butting in with such a narrow policy?
I implore you to protect the hosts’ right to decline anyone for any reason.
If you require a commitment to the “everyone is welcome” policy to continue to host with Air BnB, I will have to terminate my account and take my hosting business elsewhere. And I’m sure I will not be alone.
With sincerity,
Gail