In journalism school, students learn that there are two sides to every story. But the real question is, are there two equal sides?
This week, we tell the story of a local couple who fell in love and decided to celebrate their union by inviting their friends and family to a destination wedding at a spectacular beachfront resort in Cancun.
Same-sex marriage is legal in Quintana Roo, but Palace Resorts, which essentially runs an empire of upscale hotels mostly in Cancun, seems to have a policy against same-sex marriage. We can’t say for sure, because the public-relations team refused to comment, but PGN reporting indicates that while the resort accepts the money of vacationing same-sex couples, it will not facilitate their marriages.
When considering both sides of a story, it’s important to begin with the facts: A federal antidiscrimination law exists in Mexico. As an added layer of protection, Quintana Roo protects same-sex visitors who wish to marry from discrimination.
Thus, if a resort chooses to discriminate despite laws recognizing the full humanity of same-sex couples, are there really two equal sides to this story? One side is violating the laws of the land, while the other is a couple in love looking to formalize their union.
The Palace Resorts brass cares enough about its brand to have gifted the entire audience of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” at least twice with fully paid vacations to its properties. We wonder whether Ellen is aware that Palace refuses to perform same-sex marriages.
As bride-to-be Giulia Umile pointed out, the resort has a choice to deny same-sex marriages. “But we as consumers have the same choice. And yes, it’s a beautiful resort, and yes, they have a lot to offer, but there are plenty of other places to go. If supporting human rights or marriage equality is something people generally try to support, then maybe they’ll funnel their money someplace else.”
Well said.