Restaurant apologizes to lesbian couple

LINCOLN, England, March 8 (UPI) -- A Lincoln, England, restaurant has issued an apology to a lesbian couple who was denied a rose on Valentine's Day because they were not a "real couple."

Liz Ross, 25, and her girlfriend of four months Hayley Simpson, 21, dined at Damon's restaurant on Valentine's Day. The restaurant handed roses out to women, and Ross asked a waitress for one to give to Simpson. The waitress said she couldn't have one because "lesbians aren't real couples."

"It isn't the rose, I have a dozen of them at home, it is the principle. This is the 21st century and we don't deserve to be treated like that," Simpson told The Daily Telegraph.

Ross and Simpson complained several times to the restaurant. "We don't want to be compensated, just to receive a sincere apology," Ross said.

Keith Glee, operations manager at Damon's, sent the couple an apology letter stating: "This is the first time we have ever had a sexuality complaint within our last 24 years in business from either guests or staff. On behalf of the company please accept my sincere apologies and I hope this will not deter you from dining with us in the future."

Glee said no one on staff has admitted to making the remark.