Beauty salon has the best response after being told Pride flag is ‘in violation of natural laws of decency’
The window of Gatsby Parlour de Beauté was smashed after the owners left the Pride flag up (Instagram)
A Washington state beauty salon received a threatening message claiming their Pride flag is “in violation of natural laws of decency” – and then had its window smashed when the flag remained up.
The owners of Gatsby Parlour de Beauté in Olympia, Washington, discovered the flyer taped to the salon’s door last Monday, September 30.
It displayed the message: “Attention: You are in violation of natural laws of decency. Please remove the gay flag from your business facade.”
The parlour’s co-owner Jesse Floch said that salon staff removed the notice and left the flag up, only for the shop’s front window to be smashed four days later, on October 3.
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Floch described the incident as “a hate crime”, telling The Olympian: “This is Olympia. Like, this is a safe place, this is supposed to be our safe town where a lot of people that I consider refugees from other states [move to].
“It broke my heart to see something like that.”
The message was taped to the outside of the beauty salon
Of the demand to remove the Pride flags, he responded: “No, oh no. We’re getting bigger ones.”
According to local police, similar notices were placed on two other local businesses that fly Pride flags. Officers are still investigating the incidents.
Locals raise funds to repair pro-LGBT+ storefronts.
Meanwhile, a local fundraiser has since been launched by LGBT+ group Capital City Pride to cover the cost of “fixing the downtown windows busted by homophobes”.
The group explained: “Several downtown Olywa businesses with high viz rainbow flags are being threatened, one had their window broken as an apparent escalation of the threat.
“The signs have been taped up to a number of windows of businesses that Pride asked to display rainbow flags during Pride, a number of them have decided to keep their flags up all year round.
“PLEASE – be safe, and PLEASE support all the businesses who proudly display the rainbow flag – let them know they are not alone. Let’s send a strong message: We stand together in support of LGBTQ rights!”
Gatsby Parlour de Beauté shared a photo of its fixed window on Sunday, writing: “Thanks to everyone who stopped by donated and sent messages of support!
“This week was a difficult one for our salon. We are tired but full of love and hope gifted to us by our community. Love and peace. ❤️ #loveislove?”
