UPDATE [9/3/19]:
A representative for AirBnB issued the following statement:
"The Airbnb community is committed to building a world where people from every background feel welcome and respected, and we maintain a strict nondiscrimination policy for all hosts and guests. Through our Open Doors policy, if an Airbnb guest feels like they have been discriminated against in violation of our policy, we will find that guest a similar place to stay. We have implemented this policy to support The Vixen and provide him with new lodging."
The Vixen shared on social media that the issue has been resolved:
\u201cFinally got everything resolved with @Airbnb @AirbnbHelp It took a while but I\u2019m glad to put it all behind me and enjoy My Dragcon NewYork!\u201d— The Vixen (@The Vixen) 1567410872
ORIGINAL:
While making plans to come to New York City for DragCon, The Vixen is having issues with the AirBnB she hooked. According to the RuPaul's Drag Race star, a potential host changed the terms of her booking after seeing she was a drag queen.
On Saturday, The Vixen shared screenshots of a conversation between her and an AirBnB host to social media. In the photos, the host asks if The Vixen was "men or a woman and your age." After the performer confirmed that she was a male, the host responded, changing the initial amount of space she can used.
"Hi I just realized it said entire place,' they wrote. "It's only downstairs I'm renting out. You'll be sharing space. If not ok please remove your RSVP." Alongside the photo, The Vixen's caption claims that the host didn't like their drag photos, and because of what happened, she not only has no space to stay but her money is being held by AirBnB.
The Vixen's complaint comes weeks after three black women in Oregon sued the website, alleging it allowed vacation rental owners to discriminate against customers based on race.
The plaintiffs subsequently settled for an undisclosed amount in the case.
According to Twitter posts, The Vixen reached out to the company to have the issue resolved. "So far @AirbnbHelp has just been shuffling me around referring my case from one person to the next," she tweeted. "No one has offered any solutions. I'm in limbo, All because of someone's homophobia and bigotry," She then posted that the site recommended that she re-book in another location.
"Now there are even less suitable options and I have to risk facing more ignorance and homophobia," she wrote. "This is traumatic." After finding a second host, she says that she is being pressured to have a phone conversation instead of using the company's in-app messaging feature, which is against policy. The messaging service allows for there to be a continuous record that can be referenced in cases of possible scams or discrimination.
Airbnb does have a nondiscrimination policy which includes discrimination based on national origin, gender, marital status or sexual orientation.
Other users shared their own experiences with homophobia with Airbnb hosts, and denounced the company's lack of urgency in responding to The Vixen.
\u201c@TheVixensworld @Airbnb We got a reservation canceled ON OUR HONEYMOON when the host found out we were a gay couple the day before we were supposed to arrive. @Airbnb did absolutely nothing. This was five years ago, and I\u2019ve reported it multiple times. They don\u2019t care.\u201d— Robert (@Robert) 1567304234
\u201c@TheVixensworld @AirbnbHelp Ugh so so sorry @AirbnbHelp @Airbnb are incredibly useless. Remind me to tell you how I got kicked off the app for refusing to purchase new mattresses after a homophobic host realized I was ...gay \ud83d\ude44\n\nHopefully it works in your favor \u2764\ufe0f\u201d— mycall akeem riley (@mycall akeem riley) 1567346320
\u201c@TheVixensworld @Airbnb Wtf @Airbnb @AirbnbHelp this happens ALL THE TIME and you do nothing. You\u2019re going to get sued into the ground one day\u201d— Rose, in the winter (@Rose, in the winter) 1567356028
\u201c@TheVixensworld @Airbnb I hope the host loses their ability to rent on airbnb because of this blatant discrimination. I'm sorry this is happening to you. Hopefully @airbnb fixes it for you ASAP.\u201d— B Ahoot (@B Ahoot) 1567299076
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