Mark and Dewi Kemp bought new bowling shoes. They paid to play at the Elloughton Short Mat Bowling Club in East Yorkshire, England. But according to the U.K.'s Daily Mirror, the brothers were asked to leave because "they make other players feel uncomfortable."
Mark and Dewi Kemp have Down's Syndrome.
Emma Kemp, sister of the rejected bowlers, claims that her brothers were asked to leave an introductory bowling game because "a couple of the 12 members threatened to leave," reported Daily Mirror. Kemp said she arranged the trip and said she even called the bowling club to ensure the brothers would be welcome with their caregiver.
Daily Mirror quoted Kemp as saying, "This kind of discrimination is totally unacceptable. I think these individuals need re-educating ... My brothers shouldn't have just been told to leave, without the members first getting to know them as people. People cannot prejudice because of their disability ... If the members didn't like them as people and chose not to play with them, that is different, but a decision like that can't just be made based on their disability."
According to Kemp, the brothers had bowled the week before and couldn't wait to return to the club. Kemp says she has not told her brothers why they can't play. "Obviously both boys are quite miffed about the situation but they don't understand the full extent of why they can't play," Kemp told Daily Mirror.
"I had to be tactful. They knew there had been a problem and they couldn't bowl but I said there wasn't room for them."
According to The Daily Mail, the bowling club members have since offered to allow the brothers to join, but Kemp has declined the offer on her brothers' behalf.
