By ANNE BESTON
Two lesbians were told to leave a burger restaurant after a security guard objected to their kissing.
But both women say their behaviour would not have been noticed if they had been heterosexual.
"They are trying to say we were all over each other but we wouldn't act that way in public," said 22-year-old student Sonia Smithson.
It is the second time in the past month the two women have been involved in an altercation with security staff at Burger King's Swanson St premises.
After the first incident late last month, Burger King management replied in writing to the young women's complaint, offering them $6 in food vouchers. The company did not apologise and the women sent back the food vouchers.
"We thought it was pretty insulting. It was offensive to put a $6 value on what happened to us," said Ms Smithson.
In the early hours of last Sunday, the two women were again ordered to leave the restaurant by a Red Key security guard.
The two women say they had their arms around each other while waiting to order food. They say they pecked each other on the cheek when they sat down to eat.
A security guard then approached them and told them to leave, saying their behaviour was not allowed in the store. They say the guard tried to physically eject them but they refused to leave.
Burger King area manager Andy Larsson said the stories did not tally.
"The manager said they were carrying on, smooching at the counter.
"We don't mind a peck on the cheek, but if it goes further then we are a family restaurant and we have to think about our staff as well, some of whom are 15-year-olds," Mr Larsson said.
He was 100 per cent sure a heterosexual couple would have received the same treatment.
Ms Smithson said she and her partner had complained to the Human Rights Commission.
Lesbian couple thrown out for kissing
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