Airbnb has banned a Minnesota woman who politely declined to provide a room in her house to a crossdressing man because she didn’t want her 13 year old son to feel uncomfortable in his own home.
Shadi Petosky, a Hollywood producer who identifies and dresses as a woman, posted a tweet on Sunday with a screenshot of the message he received from the Airbnb host.
The woman wrote: “I really appreciate your honesty. I’ll have to pass though, but thank you. I have a 13-year-old boy going through puberty. I don’t him to feel any discomforts in his own home. Again, thanks for your inquiry & your honesty!”
I was denied @Airbnb because I disclosed that I’m trans. Airbnb did nothing. Had I not disclosed I’d be “dishonest” pic.twitter.com/jEkbEFIG2r
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) June 5, 2016
“I was denied @Airbnb because I disclosed that I’m trans. Airbnb did nothing. Had I not disclosed I’d be ‘dishonest,'” Petosky wrote.
Airbnb’s hosting standards instructs potential hosts: “If a traveler’s plans don’t match your hosting style or what your listing has to offer, be sure to decline the reservation request promptly.”
According to the Telegraph, the alleged incident happened last year but Petosky only decided to go public with his accusation this past weekend.
Airbnb spokesman Nick Papas confirmed to The Daily Caller that the host has been banned from using the service. “Discrimination has no place in the Airbnb community. We are removing this host from Airbnb,” Papas said.
In an internal memo issued last week — a copy of which was obtained by TheDC — Airbnb promised to fight “unconscious bias” as a company.
“While we all know that the challenge of unconscious bias has plagued societies for centuries, as a company we are responsible for doing all we can do to fght discrimination — and all of the pain it causes — and create a fair community on our platform for everyone,” the memo said.
Sunday wasn’t the first time that Petosky has generated media attention for himself by claiming to be a victim of discrimination. In September, he accused the TSA of discrimination after a body-scanner at the airport found an “anomaly.” The anomaly turned out to be Petosky’s penis (he had presented himself as a woman).
I am being held by the TSA in Orlando because of an “anomaly” (my penis)
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
Petosky later claimed the experience was “denigrating” and tweeted a picture of himself crying.
The TSA at the Orlando Airport told me I couldn’t take photos but this is denigrating. I have missed my flight pic.twitter.com/PHwBLiJ0cB
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
The TSA later stood by its agents’ handling of the case.
Follow Peter Hasson on Twitter @PeterJHasson