Unknown to Mr. Gay, another USAir flight at the airport had experienced mechanical problems. The passengers of this flight were being re-routed to various planes. A few were put on Mr. Gay's flight and anyone holding a "free" ticket was being "bumped". Airline officials, armed with a list of these freebie ticket holders boarded the plane to remove the free ticket holders. Of course our Mr. Gay was not sitting in his assigned seat as you may remember. So, when the Ticket Agent approached the seat where Mr. Gay was supposed to be sitting, she asked a startled customer, "Are you Gay?". The man shyly nodded that he was, at which time she demanded: "Then you have to get off the plane"

Our Mr. Gay overhearing what the Ticket Agent had said, tried to clear up the situation: "You've got the wrong man. I'm Gay!" This caused an angry third passenger to yell " Hell, I'm gay too! They can't kick us all off" Confusion reined as more & more passengers began yelling that USAir had no right to remove gays from the flight.