Fmr. Marine stands up to homophobia

UPDATE: Multiple parties have come forward calling Dayna Morales’ story into question. For more, read here.

A New Jersey woman and former Marine is standing up to homophobia after she was denied a tip and insulted for being gay.

Dayna Morales, who works at Gallop Asian Bistro in Bridgewater, N.J., received a note on a $93.55 receipt that said: “I’m sorry but I cannot tip because I don’t agree with your lifestyle & how you live your life.”

Rather than shrugging it off, Morales emailed a picture of the receipt to the blog, “Have A Gay Day,” and included more details about the upsetting experience.

“Not only was it a family with two kids, but as I introduce myself and tell them my name is Dayna–the mom proceeds to look at me and say, ‘Oh I thought you were gonna say your name is Dan,’” she wrote. “I am thoroughly offended, mad, pissed off, and hurt that this is what her kids will grow learning and that I served in the Marines to keep ignorant people like them free.”

If there is any silver lining to this story, it’s that Morales received an outpouring of public support once “Have A Gay Day” published her photo and email on their Facebook page.

“I am sorry you went through that Dayna,” wrote Ashley Rider. “Thank you for protecting and serving all. Even the ones who do not deserve it.”

Morales also commented on the Facebook post, thanking everyone for their support.

Gay advocates and allies recently won a major victory in New Jersey after the state’s Supreme Court signaled defendants of the same-sex marriage ban would lose, causing Republican Gov. Chris Christie’s office to drop the case. Gay couples began marrying in the Garden State last month.