Airbnb user cancelled same-sex couple’s reservation request after realizing they’re gay

Airbnb is investigating an incident involving a property owner who canceled a gay couple’s reservation request after asking them a homophobic question.

When Curtis Kimberlin Jr. and his boyfriend Jonathan began planning their trip to Dallas, Texas, they sent a friendly note to a property owner offering his place through the short-term rental service Airbnb. But the property responded with a homophobic question before canceling the couple’s reservation request.

“Hi Peter!” Kimberlin wrote to the property owner. “My partner and I will be flying into town for a weekend and we’re really excited. It’ll be my first time in Texas and my partner is from Dallas, so he’ll be showing me around.”

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The property owner responded by asking, “So I’ll be hosting two men sleeping together… right?”

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Kimberlin immediately tried to cancel his reservation request, but he discovered that the property owner had already done so.

“I was shocked for sure, but I am also somewhat used to having to hide certain parts of myself to calm conservative folks’ reactions to my identities,” Kimberlin told KXAS-TV. “I wasn’t completely surprised, more so disappointed.”

When Kimberlin posted a screenshot of the exchange on Twitter, it went viral. Hilton Hotels reached out and offered the couple free accommodations, which they accepted. Airbnb has said it’s investigating, but the property owner has denied that his actions were homophobic.

Love trying to book an @Airbnb with my bf in Dallas and having this be the first response to our booking.