Florida Business Sparks Outrage Over Sign Using Homophobic Slur Ahead Of Pride Month

A sign outside a business in Tallahassee, Florida has sparked outrage over its use of a homophobic slur.

Rick’s Repair Shop, located on U.S. Highway 90, recently posted a message that reads: “Veterans get a day f— and child molesters get a month why.”

According to available records, Rick’s Repair Shop is associated with Rick Hughes, a resident of Tallahassee.

The shop is known for its history of displaying attention-grabbing messages, sometimes of a controversial nature, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

On Sunday, Jackson Peel, the communication director for the Democratic Caucus of the Florida House of Representatives, was alerted to the sign by a friend and drove down to take a photo of the sign, which he later shared on Twitter.

This kind of bigotry should have no place in our Tallahassee community. It is an embarrassment and the people at Rick’s Repair Shop should be ashamed of their foolish, hurtful, and wrong words. pic.twitter.com/vTPg1Md2A8

— Jackson Peel (@JaxPeel) May 29, 2023

“This kind of bigotry should have no place in our Tallahassee community. It is an embarrassment and the people at Rick’s Repair Shop should be ashamed of their foolish, hurtful, and wrong words,” Peel wrote in the tweet.

Peel’s photo also appears to show a Trump banner hanging outside of the business.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the tweet had over 903,000 views.

“I understand that we are a community with diverse beliefs and opinions, but this crosses the line. It’s offensive, wrong, and meanspirited. Pedophilia and homosexuality are not connected,” Peel told the Democrat. “I think this is wrong and sends the wrong message about our community. We are not this. Implying that LGBTQ people are a danger to our children is an old trick used to justify persecution. Why would the people at a business think this kind of language is ok?”

The sign coincided with Memorial Day weekend, which closes National Military Appreciation Month, and comes just days before the official start of Pride month, which celebrates LGBTQ equality.

“Though Memorial Day is the only federally recognized holiday in May, there are a handful of other specific military holidays spread throughout the month including Loyalty Day, Public Service Recognition Week, VE Day, Armed Forces Day and Military Spouse Appreciation Day,” according to the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff website.

On Twitter, Leon County Democrats blamed Republicans for inciting the sign.

“Direct connection between this and dangerous right-wing rhetoric from the Republican Party,” the post says.

Tallahassee City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow also criticized the business on Twitter.

“I’m not sure the sad, miserable place a person must be in to take the time to put this up, but I do know the majority of folks in Tallahassee reject this hatred and respect the freedom to be who you are, love who you want and support LGBTQ rights every month of the year,” he wrote.

A Facebook user by the name of Kevonte Ford posted that there had been signs in support of the LGBTQ+ community placed across the street from the repair shop as of Monday afternoon.

The shop’s YELP page has been flooded with dozens of negative reviews calling out their homophobia. One user wrote: “Nothing worse in this world than hateful, ignorant old losers that run this run down, garbage heap in the middle of nowhere.” Another wrote: “Aside from the hate speech, my vehicle is worth more than their shop…. I wouldn’t let them touch it.”