Family Dollar Investigating Antigay Incident at New Orleans Store

Family Dollar responded Monday to allegations that a cashier in New Orleans refused to serve a lesbian customer because she did not like gay people.

The chain of discount stores, which is headquartered in North Carolina, announced it is investigating the incident, via Facebook:

"Family Dollar is taking this situation very seriously. We have a Code of Ethics here that ensures inclusion for customers and associates as well as establishing good customer care. This code forbids unprofessional conduct and comments on sexual orientation among other matters. Any activity that goes against this code is simply not how we expect our stores to do business. This situation is currently under investigation."

According to Melissa Langford, a cashier at a Family Dollar store on Canal Street in New Orleans went inbto a tirade Friday, saying she hated gay people. Langford came out to the cashier, asked her to keep her opinions to herself, and began filming the encounter. According to Langford, the cashier then refused to ring her up, and another customer who came to her defense was also denied service by the woman. Another cashier reportedly came forward to serve the pair.

New Orleanshas a (currently threatened) ordinance preventing discrimination against LGBT people when it comes to housing and public accommodations, including businesses open to the public.

On Facebook, Langford wrote that she is organizing a protest outside the store on Wednesday at noon. "Everyone is welcome. All I ask is that there is no yelling, or bad energy. We don't even need signs," she wrote. "We can just blast some Cher and make out."