Lush warns bigots in no uncertain terms ‘don’t enter with signs of transphobia’ after store targeted with hate
A Lush store in Edinburgh has hung an anti-transphobia message in its window after it was targeted with hate. (Facebook/Getty)
A Lush store in Edinburgh has warned customers not to enter if they are showing symptoms of “COVID-19, racism, homophobia, sexism or transphobia” after it was targeted with anti-trans hate.
As retailers around the UK desperately try to keep coronavirus out of their stores, cosmetics chain Lush has issued advice on some of society’s other ills.
Lush Edinburgh hung a sign in its window Monday (August 3) warning: “Please do not enter our store with signs of COVID-19, racism, homophobia, sexism or transphobia”.
The Scottish branch explained on Facebook that the message was installed after its storefront was “targeted by a transphobic group”.
Reports on social media suggest that Lush’s window was stickered with a “keep prisons single sex” message. Representatives for the company did not immediately respond to a request for clarification.
Lush added on Facebook: “Our store is a space for compassion and respect for all, and we will not condone or support acts of hate.”
“If you are showing signs of COVID-19 please follow government guidelines to isolate and get tested, if you are showing signs of any of racism, homophobia, sexism or transphobia, we recommend you isolate and educate yourself.”
Lush and Body Shop compete for biggest trans ally.
Lush has previous form when it comes to defending the trans community.
In recent months it has hung its anti-transphobia sign in branches around the country, to the delight of the queer community.
Prior to that, in 2018, it launched a |Trans Rights Are Human Rights” campaign across its US operation, handing customers booklets written by trans and non-binary employees on how to be an ally.
To mark the campaign it also released one of its signature bath products in the pink and blue of the trans flag, with all proceeds donated to trans advocacy groups, and launched an online portal with resources for trans people and allies.
Lush’s latest act follows a similar intervention by rival The Body Shop, which was applauded in June when it confronted JK Rowling on Twitter over her views on trans people.
After the author criticised trans-inclusive language around periods in a series of tweets foreshadowing her now-infamous “TERF Wars” essay, The Body Shop offered to send her “a vegan bath bomb and a copy of ‘Trans Rights’ by Paisley Currah… to read in the bath”.
