Women
Hair Stylist Refuses to Cut Anti-Gay Governor's Hair
Antonio Darden refused to style Governor Susana Martinez's because of her anti-gay stance.
February 22 2012 3:33 PM EST
December 09 2022 9:12 AM EST
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Antonio Darden refused to style Governor Susana Martinez's because of her anti-gay stance.
It's been a long-running joke (though seldom enforced) among LGBT folks, particularly gay men who work in the creative-service spaces: If you discriminate against the gay community, we will refuse to cater/plan/decorate your weddings, design and make your dresses, or make you look pretty for your next big event.
Now, it seems, one gay hair stylist hasn't just made that joke, he's lived up to his word.
Antonio Darden (left) styled Governor Susana Martinez of New Mexico (right) on three separate occasions. Martinez is a Republican who got Sarah Palin's endorsement in 2010, and though she may believe that the United States Constitution needs an amendment banning gay marriage, she still adores having second-class citizens cut and style her hair. So when the Governor's staff called to schedule a fourth visit to Antonio’s Hair Studio in Santa Fe, Darden declined.
“The governor's aides called not too long ago, wanting another appointment to come in," Darden told KOB News. "Because of her stances and her views on this I told her aides no. They called the next day, asking if I'd changed my mind about taking the governor in and I said no again."
Darden, who has been with his partner for 15 years, also said, "I think it's just equality, dignity for everyone. I think everybody should be allowed the right to be together.
Watch Darden’s interview with Albuquerque local news station KOB below.