In this photo illustration, the Airbnb logo is displayed on a smartphone. (Photo illustration by Mateusz Słodkowski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
SOPA Images/SOPA Images/LightRocket via GettAfter the Texas native tweeted that the Dallas-based Airbnb host denied his booking request, the online short-stay marketplace launched an investigation to confirm the alleged bias, according to news reports.
Curtis Kimberlin Jr posted a screenshot of his boyfriend’s conversation with an Airbnb host on January 7, which quickly garnered attention on Twitter. As usual, partner Kimberlin shared details of the couple’s trip to Dallas at the time of the booking request and offered to answer any questions.
Apparently, the owner had only one.
“So I will accept two men sleeping together… right?” the man asked the couple.
In Kimberlin’s Twitter activity, he says the host turned down the couple’s request because of his sexual orientation. MySA reached out to Kimberlin for comment but did not receive a statement from the Dallas native.
Airbnb has since removed the host from the dispute and also launched an investigation into the incident, according to a statement provided to NBCDFW.com, NBC TV’s Dallas-Fort Worth-area news affiliate.
Hosts on the platform cannot reject guests based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The San Francisco-based company has a non-discrimination policy whereby violations lead to an investigation and appropriate action.
While Kimberlin said Airbnb contacted him and his partner, he told Dallas-Fort Worth TV that the response was “corporate” with no follow-up.
