What falls under discrimination?

[Mallory17]

Hi all-yesterday I wrote about a rather bizarre refund request. I have an unexpected update that I’d like to share and get thoughts on...

It turns out that this guest left early due to her religious beliefs, not a family emergency as she claimed. 

In my Home, I welcome everyone, no matter their beliefs etc. I have a social justice sign in the front of my house that states I believe “Love is Love, Black Lives Matter, No Human Is Illegal etc.” and I have one piece of rainbow decoration that perhaps very abstractly seen as pride memorabilia by some. Otherwise it’s just plants and ordinary decorations. 

This group also rummaged through a lot of my personal belongs that most guests wouldn’t even consider going through. She later admitted they were looking for more evidence to confirm their “suspicions” (I lock everything important up to be safe, but still...). 

I feel sad, like this person discriminated against me because I don’t share the same beliefs. Should I involve AirBnB? I already gave her a thumbs down review after I discovered they had gone through my belongings. Do I just let it go? 

[Alexandra316]

@Mallory17 That sounds brutal. Overall, they just sound like really bad guests. What happened with the refund? Did they end up asking for or getting any more than the cleaning fee?

I would let Airbnb know, yes. It's really odd that they would look through your stuff looking for "evidence". Did they say that's what they were doing through Airbnb messenger?  It seems like really weird behaviour to me. I would consider contacting Airbnb on Twitter @airbnbhelp to let them know about your experience.

[Mallory17]

@Alexandra316 Thanks so much for the advice & the support. She thankfully did admit to these things in the messaging app. And I only refunded the cleaning fee-ironically in a gesture of good will, thinking she was dealing with a family emergency. I will look into opening a twitter account to contact AirBnB. 

The situation has left me feeling rather hurt. I happen to be gay, and while I don’t think that is obvious by just being in my Home, I feel extremely violated to have someone looking through my personal things with such hate in their heart. 

Thanks again for your response. 

[Alexandra316]

@Mallory17 I pretty much only use my Twitter for contacting Airbnb. I've just found that I get the best service there, and I think that a problem like this might be better laid out in writing than trying to explain over the phone.

Good that she put everything in writing.

I can appreciate why you feel violated. I really feel that some people just aren't suited to Airbnb. If someone is so hateful that they can't be in a home belonging to someone who doesn't meet their personal criteria, they should probably just stick to hotels.

[Mallory17]

@Alexandra316 I agree. I’m sure in a few days time I won’t feel so shaken. I really do try to go out of my way to make people feel welcome in my Home....but I can’t hide who I am out of fear of someone else’s belief system. I really appreciate your words of support. The situation had me feeling pretty down, but I feel better having been able to share the experience with others. 

[Dawn33]

The saddest part is that you were judged and vilified in the safezone of your home.

Contact Airbnb ASAP.

sorry this happened to you.

[Lisa723]

Ugh. Glad I'm not a member of whatever religion requires that kind of behavior.

[Mallory17]

Couldn’t agree more. Thank you for your support. 

[John1080]

@Mallory17, did the group say they were leaving because of their religion beliefs, and when you mentioned they admitted they went through your things "to confirm their suspicions", what suspicions are you referring to?

I don't really think this falls under discrimination. Terrible behavior on their part yes, but not discrimination. If you were to request someone's home and they said, "No, you cannot stay here because of your religious beliefs" or if a host made a guest leave because of their religious beliefs, then that would be discrimination. 

Moreover, unless the guests said to you via AirBnb messages that they were leaving because of religious beliefs, it would be hard to prove they did so. If they are trying to claim a refund for a family emergency, they will probably get it unless you can proove otherwise. Hopefully they are not claiming a refund because it sounds like they don't deserve one. 

[Mallory17]

@John1080 Yes, she explicitly said it was “her belief in Jesus Christ” that caused her to leave. She said this in the messaging system. She also stated this is why she went through my belongings. It’s all documented by her. 

[Suzanne302]

@Mallory17  Oh, yeah, because Jesus totally encourages snooping. And discrimination.

I really hope these awful people do not get a refund!

[John1080]

@Mallory17, great, then I'd say she has no ground to stand on for a refund and I would fight it if AirBnb tries to give her one. 

She has a right to her personal beliefs, no matter how hateful they are. We don't have to like them or agree with them, but she has a right to them as long as they are not harming you. I'd say if she is given a refund, then that is harming you, however, and hopefully, AirBnb will not give her one. 

[Mallory17]

@John1080 I fully agree that she has a right to her beliefs. I would say her beliefs harmed me when they led her to go through my tucked away belongings and when she lied to me about a family emergency as an attempt to get me to refund her. I have nothing against anyone’s personal beliefs. I gladly welcome people of all different backgrounds into my Home. But there has to be a mutual respect. 

[John1080]

@Mallory17, yes, certainly. My point is, that I don't think this falls under discrimination. That said, she should not have gone through your things. The only thing you can do about that is try to collect money from the resolution center, but that would likely fail. 

She should most certainly NOT get a refund, and hopefully with the documentation to prove what she said, what she did and why she actually left, she will not get one. 

I'd like to hear how this turns out! 

[Andreas-and-Anna0]

I’m sorry this happened to you. You have plenty evidence against her. It appears she may be paranoid schizophrenic—- that’s what her behaviour tells me.