Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Family Refuses To Tip NJ Waitress Because She's Gay
By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 15, 2013
Modified Nov 15, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
View all 4
By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 15, 2013
Modified Nov 15, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Earlier this week, a server at a restaurant in Bridgewater, NJ looked at a check to see that the family she had just served completely stiffed her on the tip. And the awful thing was the reason the diner wrote on the check: "I'm sorry but I cannot tip because I do not agree with your lifestyle and how you live your life."
Server Dayna Morales sent the check to Have a Gay Day, which posted the offensive check on their Facebook page. Morales, who works at Gallop Asian Bistro, also revealed that when she got to their table, "NEVER in a million years did I think this would happen. Not only was it a family with two kids, but as I introduce myself and tell them my name is Dayna—the mom proceeds to look at me and say 'oh I thought you were gonna say your name is Dan. You sure surprised us!'"
Morales, who has served in the U.S. Marine Corps, never told the customers that she was gay. She told Have a Gay Day, "I am THOROUGHLY offended mad pissed off and hurt that THIS is what her kids will grow up learning and that I served in the Marines to keep ignorant people like them free. Sorry lady but I don't agree with YOUR lifestyle and the way you're raising your kids but you didn't see me throwing that in your face and giving you shitty service. Keep your damn mouth shut and pray we never cross paths again."
She shared her shock with WABC 7, explaining, "It wasn't he said, she said. They actually wrote it, proof they said it."
The restaurant's manager told NBC New York, "We don't tolerate discrimination of any kind. Those customers are not welcome here. We support Dayna 100 percent. She's a wonderful person and a wonderful server, and we are extremely proud of her and the way she handled this situation."
Morales said on Facebook, "Thanks everyone for your support—it took very fiber of my being not to spit in their food and say something. (Not gonna lie if kids weren't there it would of been a totally different story)."
Tagged
bigot
bridgewater
dayna morales
discrimination
gallop asian bistro
lgbt
nj
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Published Sep 12, 2026
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
Is it worth the high price and ridiculous wait? Gothamist needed to find out.
By
Sonia Rao
Food
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
Is it worth the high price and ridiculous wait? Gothamist needed to find out.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Where to eat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn right now, from Polish to Sichuan to Iberian
By
Robert Sietsema
Can a congressional candidate's dumpling diplomacy win over Queens’ immigrant communities?
By
Caroline Shin
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .