Mom of NJ teen with autism sues Cinemark claiming her son was harassed and thrown out of movie theater for using women's restroom with her

The mother of an autistic teenager is suing her local movie theater, claiming her son was discriminated against when staff forced them to leave the New Jersey venue after she allowed him to use the women's restroom.

Christine Gallinaro and her 15-year-old son, John, had tickets to see Disney's Elemental on June 16 at the Cinemark Theater in Hazlet, New Jersey.

As the previews for other films rolled, Gallinaro brought her son into the women's bathroom - as there were no family restrooms at the theater, her suit stated.

When the boy was washing his hands, Gallinaro claimed the theater manager stormed into the bathroom and harassed her son, demanding that they leave, and even calling the local police on them.

Gallinaro now argued the movie theater violated the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, claiming the employees 'intentionally or recklessly committed acts or omissions producing emotional distress' to the teenager.

She brushed by me, quickly and aggressively to be inches [from] my son,' Christine said, adding 'she gave him a very nasty look and rolled her eyes and she was looking at him.'

The mother claimed in the lawsuit the manager then started shouting discriminatory remarks, including that a 'grown' man should not be in the women's restroom and 'this is not a transgender bathroom.'

Gallinaro said she would like a formal apology from Cinemark.

'If my son chooses to return, I'd want him welcomed back by Cinemark,' she said. 'And I want to see more family bathrooms.'

Her attorney, Armen McOmber, also told News 12 New Jersey he hopes the lawsuit will set a precedent so other parents with children who have disabilities do not have the same experience.

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