An Autistic Teenager and His Mother Thrown Out of Theatre for Using the Bathroom

After an angry manager confronted Christine and her son for using the women’s bathroom, police were called, and the pair were forced to leave the theatre.

Christine Gallinaro and her 15-year-old love going to their local New Jersey movie theatre, but unfortunately, what should have been a fun and enjoyable time quickly turned into a nightmare for the pair.

What was once her son’s favorite place to visit became a police incident after a manager forced them to leave the Cinemark in Hazlet on June 16th.

While watching Disney’s animated film, Elemental, Gallinaro’s son, who is autistic and has speech delays, needed to visit the bathroom.

Gallinaro took her son to the women’s bathroom, as there were no family toilets, and accompanied her son into the bathroom. As they were leaving, they were “angrily approached by a manager who shouted blatantly discriminatory remarks,” Gallinaro states in her lawsuit.

“He (referring to Gallinaro’s son) shouldn’t be in here (referring to the women’s restroom),” the manager is accused of saying in the theater’s lobby full of moviegoers, according to the complaint.

She’s also accused of saying that a “grown’ man should not be in the women’s restroom” as the restroom is “not a transgender bathroom” and ordered an assistant manager to call the police, according to the complaint.

Now, Gallinaro is suing Cinemark Hazlet 12, Cinemark USA, the manager, and assistant manager, along with additional defendants, accusing them of discriminating against her son based on his disability.

“My son was humiliated and harassed for going to the bathroom,” Gallinaro said, speaking to McClatchy News in a statement. “I am my son’s voice, protector and advocate…I felt compelled to go public with this for my community of parents and their autistic children or adult children.”

At the manager’s request, the police were called. When the police arrived, an officer spoke with Gallinaro, saying that he “didn’t agree with what the manager did” but that she and her son should leave as they were “causing a disturbance,” according to a video filmed by Gallinaro.

In a further video, Gallinaro was speaking with a police officer in the lobby, explaining how her son is autistic and couldn’t use the men’s room alone. In the video, an officer can be seen and heard saying, “I couldn’t agree with your more.”

In the complaint lodged by Gallinaro, it’s noted that apart from offering two free movie tickets to Gallinaro, the company has made zero effort to address their discriminatory and harassing conduct.

Since the incident occurred, Gallinaro has noticed several behavioral changes in her son, including him repeatedly apologizing for what happened in the theatre that day.

“What happened is outrageous and appalling,” Gallinaro told McClatchy News reporters, “there needs to be family bathrooms installed in these locations and robust sensitivity training immediately…All people including the disabled have a right to go to a public bathroom with dignity and respect with safety for all remaining a top priority.”

A Joyful Occasion Ruined – Conclusion

While many businesses and companies have gone above and beyond when dealing with disability issues, this story shows that a lot of work and education is still needed to ensure that people with disabilities have the same opportunity and rights as everyone else.

If you have any questions about autism products or would like to find more information about sensory products, please don’t hesitate to reach out and contact us directly. Our friendly and professional team is standing by to assist you.

Originally reported in the Miami Herald, part of the McClatchy Media Network.