Woman turned down by Airbnb host for being transgender

An American television writer and producer has slammed Airbnb in a tweet that has gone viral after she was discriminated by a host for being transgender.

Shadi Petosky shared her experience, which occurred in Minneapolis in 2015, due to the company currently being under scrutiny for alleged racial discrimination.

The writer and producer tweeted on Sunday (June 5) that she decided not to be “dishonest” about her gender identification, but was then declined a room to stay because the host didn’t want her son “to feel any discomforts in his own home.”

https://twitter.com/shadipetosky/status/739603046821330944

Despite making a private complaint against the host shortly after the incident, she was promoted to a ‘super host’ on the home-sharing service site.

After Shadi’s tweet went viral over the weekend, Airbnb removed the host in question from their service, adding: “Discrimination has no place in the Airbnb community.”

Speaking to The Guardian, the company’s Public Affairs Director, Nick Pappas, says: “We are conducting a comprehensive review and examining what can be done to ensure we resolve these kinds of issues quickly and help make sure everyone is treated fairly.”

Shadi, however, says she wishes the host hadn’t been banned without being informed beforehand, saying she’d rather have see some education on trans issues take place instead.

Nobody asked me but I don’t think @airbnb should have banned the host without notice — would rather see education / compromise.

— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) June 8, 2016

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