Tesco manager to meet with lesbians who were told ‘gay people shouldn’t have babies’

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The store manager of a branch of Tesco has offered to meet with a lesbian couple who were told by a staff member that “gay people shouldn’t have babies”.

The incident occurred when Natalie Rivans was shopping with her girlfriend Helen Embleton, at the Tesco store in Surrey Quays on January 3.

A cashier made comments to the pair about a pregnant woman in front of them – telling the pair: “It’s wrong… gay people shouldn’t have babies.”

When she challenged the cashier on the comments, Ms Rivans claims she was told: “It’s a free country, so I can say what I like”.

Now, Rivans has told PinkNews that the store manager of the branch had contact her to ask if they can meet with them tomorrow, extending an apology for the incident.

She said: “I think it’s an apology personally. However I would like to know how were moving forward with the issue and what he’s changing policy as procedure wise to ensure no one else has to go through what we did twice in 72 hours with two members of staff. ”

A Tesco spokesperson said: “Following inappropriate comments in store by one of our colleagues we have apologised to the customers involved and an internal investigation is now under way.

“We work hard to make sure that everyone is welcome at Tesco and put great emphasis on celebrating diversity and ensuring that we are an inclusive place to work and shop.

“Any remarks or actions from our colleagues which are not in line with these beliefs are not acceptable and will not be tolerated.”