Queer-inclusive restaurant warns customers not to enter with ‘symptoms of racism, homophobia or transphobia’
Dundee restaurant, Wee Mexico had been criticised by some due to their new sign that stands against discrimination. (@weemexico Instagram)
A restaurant in Dundee, Scotland, was praised by LGBT+ patrons on social media after it warned those with symptoms of racism, homophobia or transphobia to steer clear.
After Wee Mexico shuttered due to COVID-19 earlier this year, the store reopened with a new sign which read: “We’re back! Please do not enter if you have symptoms of COVID-19, racism, homophobia [or] transphobia.”
The general manager of Wee Mexico, Ben Wyatt, told the Evening Telegraph that the sign was in response to LGBT+ patrons being targeted in the past by hateful customers.
“We have quite a diverse group of staff and this is something we stand for, and we figured our customers would agree with it, and as the sign says if not we are not particularly keen to have them in here,” he said.
After Wee Mexico shared its sign on social media, it quickly drew praise.
One user said on Instagram: “Y’all are the best!! loving that sign!”
“Wee Mexico Dundee, [this is] a sign to be proud of!” another user said on Twitter.
Yet, Wee Mexico’s stand against racism and anti-LGBT+ bigotry drew criticism from some quarters.
“Since when has an eatery been so judgemental?” one social media user wrote.
“You gravitate to where you feel comfortable but does it need [to be] proclaimed like that!”
After all, a transphobe not being able to eat a taco is truly the height of prejudice. No doubt.
Other comments included people questioning why the restaurant didn’t include other forms of discrimination, such as misogyny.
Wyatt said that it was upsetting that some people had taken the message in a negative way.
“2020 has been a crazy year with lots of debate on all sorts of issues and we wanted to spread the message that anyone is welcome here,” he told the Telegraph.
“I am a privileged white male but this does happen, especially in the hospitality industry.”
Wee Mexico is not the only business to take a stand against discrimination.
The Wee Mexico sign appears to have been inspired by a Lush store in Edinburh which won praise with a similar message earlier this year, as it warned customers to not come into the store if they had “signs of COVID-19, racism, homophobia, sexism or transphobia”.
A Lush store in Edinburgh has hung an anti-transphobia message in its window after it was targeted with hate. (Facebook/Getty)
Lush said 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.”
