Homophobes want to cut off a gay guy’s arm over racy tattoo of footballer
A tattoo artist has fired back at homophobes who attacked a suggestive work she inked on a gay guy’s arm.
Alisha Rice of Think Tank Tattoo in Denver, Colorado shared the NFL-themed pin-up tattoo she had created for an unnamed gay customer on Instagram.
The tattoo features a suggestive drawing of Green Bay Packers quarterbck Aaron Rodgers trouser-less and wearing a jockstrap.
Ms Rice wrote: “You aren’t a #GreenBay fan, until you are an #AaronRodgers in a jockstrap pinup tattoo wearing fan. #greenbaypackers #packersfan #greenbayallday #alisharice #thinktanktattoo #instagay #gayjock #buzzfeedstyle #pinupguy #lgbtpride”.
But the post was besieged by homophobes, who derided the unnamed male Packers fan for his tattoo.
One wrote: “Aaron should confiscate this gay guys arm. Not cool.”
Another added: “What I’m [sic] tarnation is this gay ass s**t? This is what y’all do up in Wisconsin? Don’t even look like his face and that helmet is severely f**ked. This some homo ass s**t”.
Ms Rice fired back: “Your hate is unwelcome here. Being heterosexual doesn’t give the right to name call people that are different from you.”
When another commenter derisively posted “Bruh this n***a gay”, she fired back: “No s**t. Is this a new concept to you, that some people are gay?
After the tattoo continued to get abuse and media coverage, she made another post to call out the haters.
Ms Rice wrote: “I’d like to to thank the Internet and the bloggers that brought homophobic football fans and armchair tattoo critiques to my door.
“I am happy with the results and so is the client. You may not understand why someone would want a hunky football player tattoo, but tattooing is personal.
“This tattoo is a celebration of identity, home, and team. That’s it! Hate and bigotry are not welcome here.”
Her colleagues at Think Tank Tattoo, responding to hate: “The LGBT community enjoys American football just as much as the straight community.
“Tattoo tributes to public figures through artistic expression are perfectly acceptable in our culture.
“By tattoo standards this is a very well executed Traditional American pin-up tattoo.
“What’s the real problem?”
Related: What this NFL player has to say about gay players hopefully shows times are changing
