A babysitting service in Sydney, Australia, was shocked when they received a particularly bizarre series of texts from a parent looking to hire a babysitter. Basically, if "The Baby-Sitters Club" was still around today, this particular story would be called "Kristy and the Homophobic Babysitting Request."

Wikipedia - wikipedia.org

Here's what we know.

REACH Kids posted a troubling text conversation between one of their sitters and a prospective client from their Facebook page, which appears to show the client making some blatantly homophobic requests.

"Earlier today I received a rather alarming request for a sitter. I was asked to only send a sitter who was Christian and did not support the LGBT+ community. While I can understand wanting a sitter whose religious beliefs align with your own, to ask that the person serving you openly disrespects another group of people is outrageous!

At REACH kids we are incredibly supportive of the diversity within our community. While we recognise not everyone feels the same, we firmly believe in equal rights for all, including the LGBT+ community.

I have since turned away this customer based on their discriminatory behaviour toward the LGBT+ community."

Here are the texts.

The client specifically requests a sitter who "supports our teaching of anti gay marriage, and lack of support for the gay/rainbow flag community":

REACH Kids/Facebook - facebook.com

Those are some pretty outrageous statements to make, and any business is not only allowed to decline such a request, but wouldn't be out of bounds for doing so.

What's a bit puzzling, though, is what came next:

REACH Kids/Facebook - facebook.com

It's puzzling, because, as a few Facebook posters commented, why ask for more information from the parent?

REACH explained that they asked for a time and address because, at first, they were considering taking the job.

REACH Kids/Facebook - facebook.com

Because of the unusual circumstances, some Facebook commenters are accusing REACH of staging the whole ordeal. REACH insists the texts are 100 percent real.

REACH Kids/Facebook - facebook.com

In the end though, what's important is seeing how many people are united in fighting against homophobia, bigotry, and people who aren't "normal."

REACH Kids/Facebook - facebook.com

It's still disappointing to see such blatant examples of hatred against the gay community. Earlier this month, a gay couple received an anonymous hate letter in response to an invitation to their wedding.

[H/T Distractify]