Kentucky BBQ Restaurant Gets Grilled for ‘LGBTQ’ Shirts

Victor Westerkamp
By Victor Westerkamp
April 22, 2019US News
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Kentucky BBQ Restaurant Gets Grilled for ‘LGBTQ’ Shirts
Man enjoys a beer and sausage. (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

A Kentucky barbecue joint is facing the heat after it advertised some T-shirts on social media that were deemed by some to be inappropriate and offensive to the LGBTQ community.

For three years, Belle’s Smoking BBQ, based in Williamstown, Kentucky, has been traveling all over the state bringing its food to BBQ lovers. Now, they have been facing a lot of backlash—and some support—after promoting their new T-shirts emblazed with the message “I support LGBTQ: Liberty, Guns, Bible, Trump, BBQ” on social media last week.

Owner Jamie Smith said to Cincinnati.com: “I found the acronym on Facebook and I just added the Q.”

He says that his staff have been wearing the shirts with the acronym, which is usually associated with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (or Questioning), for a year and a half or so.

But they had never faced any backlash until a Facebook post advertising the shirts went viral on April 18. Many were quick to respond with comments, calling the misappropriation of the slogan bigoted and hateful.

“I posted the shirt for new swag, and it just went out of hand, and it got blowed [sic] up,” Smith told Fox 19. Even before advertising the shirts on Facebook, he had sold about one 100 pieces.

“I posted it at about 6, and at about 10 a.m. is when the threatening calls came,” Smith told Cincinnati.com. “Social media went berserk,” and he said he received “about 30” threatening calls.

Especially after chief executive Chris Hartman of the Louisville Fairness Campaign—a group that strives to counter discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation—shared the post on their Facebook page, a tsunami of hate emails flooded the internet.

Belle’s Smokin BBQ in Williamstown, KY removed this post after #LGBTQ supporters let them know how they feel about their shirt. How do you feel about it?

Posted by Fairness Campaign on Thursday, April 18, 2019

Belle’s Smoking BBQ removed the post and replaced it with a statement saying: “Belle’s Smoking BBQ apologizes if we have offended any groups, organizations or individuals with our shirts. We respect all beliefs and lifestyles and want no ill will towards anyone.

“We know each person has their own thoughts and beliefs, but we are hurt that the people who are saying ‘stop the hate’ are the ones coming at us with the harassing messages and threatening phone calls.

“Again we apologize for any hurt feelings and thank our supporters who truly know us.”

http://www.fox19.com/2019/04/19/northern-kentucky-bbq-business-getting-heat-lgbtq-shirts/

Posted by Belle's Smokin BBQ on Friday, April 19, 2019

“It wasn’t intended to single out any individual,” Smith told the Louisville Courier. “It takes all kinds to make the world go around.”

But according to Hartman, there was no question that the shirts were meant to provoke those who identify as LGBTQ—”the acronym itself, but then by extension people, identity,” he told the Courier. While a legitimate apology would be an essential gesture, according to Hatman, it would only be an important first step.

“How are they going to be inclusive? Is there going to be a Pride Month barbecue special? The rainbow sliders, or something,” Hartman continued. “At this point, it’s not enough to just say we’re sorry. You actually have to take actionable steps to prove that you’re going to be inclusive.”

Meanwhile, Smith told the Courier that he is not planning to stop selling the controversial shirts. He has already sold out all of his stock and there’s a new load coming up.

Orders are coming in from all over the country, he said.

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