Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores is the latest company to face backlash and calls for boycotts from conservatives over a social media post vocalizing their support for the LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month.
On Facebook, the country restaurant posted a picture of a rainbow rocking chair with a Pride Month message: “We are excited to celebrate Pride Month with our employees and guests. Everyone is always welcome at our table (and our [rainbow] rocker). Happy Pride!”
“We take no pleasure in reporting that Cracker Barrel has fallen,” tweeted the Texas Family Project, an anti-LGBTQ+ organization, sharing a two-page flyer from the restaurant chain celebrating Pride month.
“Discrimination, overt or through unconscious bias, has no place at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store,” the company declares.
Some took to social media to express their outrage that Cracker Barrel would dare support its LGBTQ+ employees and patrons.
Many others took to Twitter to mock the vocal minority dismayed by the restaurant chains Pride posts.
In 1992, Cracker Barrel issued a policy that it would not hire gay or lesbian employees. After public and shareholder pressure, Cracker Barrel reversed that policy.
During the George W. Bush administration, Cracker Barrel settled a lawsuit with the Justice Department that alleged a pattern of discrimination against African-American customers, based on conduct in 50 restaurants in seven states, reports Martketwatch.