The couple at the centre of a human rights dispute with a Whangarei motel have condemned a death threat the lodge’s owners say they have received. "Nobody deserves such threats; it is disgusting, cruel and completely unnecessary. I do not wish that upon anyone,” Jane Collison tells GayNZ.com Daily News. Her partner Paula Knight agrees: “Death threats are certainly not cool, and not what we are seeking from making a formal complaint.” Pilgrim Planet’s owners Karen and Michael Ruskin say they have received a death threat and verbal abuse over their anti-gay stance. They have reportedly made a complaint to police. Knight has also moved to clarify what happened at the lodge, as there have been reports they decided to leave of their own accord after being denied a double bed. “The truth of the matter is that we were told by Mrs Ruskin that she would 'prefer' if we did not stay there at all, as we were a same sex couple and this would offend the Ruskins,” Knight says. She has also addressed claims the motel is residential accommodation, which would protect the Ruskins under the Human Rights Act. “I booked their accommodation on-line. At the time, on Trip Advisor they promoted their style of accommodation as being 'Motel' style. In the AA Accommodation Guide 2013 edition they promote themselves as a 'Motel',” Knight says. “I was told there was an international hockey tournament being hosted in Whangarei the same week I was planning to visit for my work seminar. Hence, I booked accommodation on-line in advance as the whole city's accommodation was going to be under pressure. “I was actually looking forward to my stay there as because of their location, we could walk down to the town basin and enjoy an evening out with my partner - never thinking my business trip would turn into this ridiculous fearsome fiasco and disembowelment of the facts. “The facts are that we are contributing members of society, I was in Whangarei on a business trip and just wishing to get on with my life. However, my day and plans where completely turned on their head. I was totally inconvenienced and made to feel like I should just slink off into the gutter like I did not belong - clearly discrimination, which I thought was against the law in this country.” While wishing to clear up the facts, Knight reiterates she does not wish any malice towards the Ruskins. “Abuse and death threats are totally inappropriate and in fact most disturbing,” she says. Knight says the stand she and Collison are making is based on human rights, not special gay rights, and their belief that they were treated poorly by someone offering a service in the hospitality industry. She believes there are probably more subtle ways in which they could market themselves in order to channel clientele in keeping with their traditions and personal beliefs. “I would like to appeal to the public to please now 'wait and see' what the outcome is from our formal complaint, and that it is not our wish for Mr and Mrs Ruskin to be personally attacked for holding true to what they believe, as they are entitled to hold their own beliefs.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 21st May 2013 - 7:27pm