N.C. couple denied family rate at YMCA

By Ruth Schneider, 365gay.com
03.23.2010 2:12pm EDT

A North Carolina family is irked their local YMCA doesn’t allow same-sex couples to join at the family rate.

Last month, Mark Maxwell and Timothy Young tried to join the Central YMCA as a family. The couple has two adopted children and is planning to adopting a third. They were turned down because they are a same-sex couple.

Central YMCA is the only large metropolitan YMCA in the state to refuse same-sex couples who try to join the club as a family.

Maxwell told the Winston-Salem Journal he left messages and sent e-mails to the YMCA, but in return the club only acknowledged the complaint was received.

“I love my family and I’m the one who will define who is family to me,” he said.

A spokesman for the YMCA told the Journal the club is due to review its policy, which occurs every four years. The last review was in 2006.