Gay man allegedly denied hotel stay after advising he wanted to share a bed with another man

Photo: Adobe Stock

Marlon Brandon, an African-American gay male, says he was denied an extension of his hotel stay at a Center City hotel after advising the front-desk manager he wanted to share his bed with another male guest. 

The incident took place in June 2022 at the Holiday Inn Express, 1305 Walnut St. in the Gayborhood. Brandon filed a complaint with the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations in February 2023, alleging denial of a public accommodation due to his sexual orientation.

The complaint has been assigned to an investigator and remains an active investigation. A spokesperson for PCHR declined to comment.

Brandon is seeking an unspecified amount in punitive and compensatory damages, along with remedial actions by the hotel. For instance, he wants the front-desk manager fired. She’s identified as “Tiffany” in the complaint.

“I felt as if I was being criminalized because of my same-sex orientation,” said Brandon, 55. He’s an actor and semi-retired nurse, he said. 

“They [hotel staff] put me through a lot of trouble and humiliation for nothing,” Brandon added.

He said the front desk manager found out about his “significant other” because he requested a key for the man. He’d already stayed at the hotel for three days and wanted to extend his stay another three days.

“Tiffany,” the front-desk manager, allegedly said: ‘I’m not putting two Black men in the same room in one bed.”’ Brandon subsequently was told to leave the premises, according to Brandon’s PCHR complaint.

Brandon said he made alternate arrangements at the Alexander Inn, 301 S. 12th Street in the Gayborhood. He was pleased with his treatment there, he said.

Brandon recently spoke to a PCHR investigator who’s handling his case and said he’s satisfied with the way it’s being handled.

Brandon had 300 days from the incident to file a PCHR complaint and he met that deadline, according to city records.

The hotel issued the following statement: “The Holiday Inn Express Midtown has been an established business since 1964, and proud to be part of the Gayborhood in Philadelphia. We are very involved in the Midtown Village Merchants Association and Washington Square West. Promoting inclusivity and non-discrimination is a core value to this hotel and we welcome all guests. We deny any allegations made by Marlon Brandon regarding this matter. We love being located in this neighborhood, and are proud to serve the community with our hospitality services.”

Kevin I. Lovitz, an attorney for Brandon, expressed optimism about the case. “This is the first stage to filing a lawsuit,” Lovitz told PGN. “We’re optimistic my client’s position concerning discrimination will be found to be true. He’ll be vindicated and the hotel will be found liable for discriminating against him on the basis of his sexual orientation.”

Rufus A. Jennings, an attorney for the hotel, declined to comment for this story.

Newsletter Sign-up