Not sure whether or not to check out if shopkeepers homophobic

I live in a small country town and have been shopping at the local hardware store for over ten years, always getting friendly and helpful service until recently when I went into the store wearing a rainbow badge with the words "All Families Matter".

In case you don't all know, Australia is in the throes of a ridiculous expensive, divisive and non-binding plebiscite on whether or not we agree with same sex marriage becoming legal, with the result due to be announced next Wednesday.

The first time I was wearing the badge I was fairly sure I noticed some disapproving looks from staff and yesterday I not only received stares verging on glares but also poor service and misinformation regarding the product I was buying.

I have to go back there today because of the incorrect product I was sold and I'm not sure whether or not it's a good idea to wear the badge again and either stare them down, ignore it or ask them directly what their problem is.

The second hand shop next door to the hardware has a "YES" rainbow poster up and I'm thinking of checking with the owner if he's had any issues come up with the hardware shop people.

What do others think?

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Comments ( 21 )
  • Dustyair

    I think you should quit shoving homo crap in other peoples faces. Mind your own business.

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    • Ellenna

      When heterosexuals stop shoving their crap in my face I'll stop wearing my badge, which is important to me because I lost custody of my daughter back in the 70's partly because of my "lesbian tendencies" and my grandchildren have a bisexual mum, my daughter.

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      • Dustyair

        How nice, so you infect the kids with that crap too, and tell em to go out and beat others over the head with it.

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        • Takuto

          I think it's simply protecting one's values agsinst prejudice. If I were to say heterosexuality was disgusting your values would be diminished and you'd feel offended. Homosexuals constsntly get this abuse and having 'Pride' and badged is their way of saying You don't have to like it just accept we exist.

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          • Dustyair

            Then don't run around bullying people with your sex life, have some compassion and consideration for others. Most people don't want to know about anyways, and you can't stand that. lol!

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            • Takuto

              Yeah I've never had a homosexual 'bully' me with their sexuality. In fact I've had lots of heterosexuals bully me with their sex lives, saying they've 'had some' etc. If you feel offended by a badge then grow up and stop crying that things aren't going your way. Culture will always change and whilst the majority will move forward you can stay behind and campaign for slavery and facism or whatever you far rights do these days.

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            • Ellenna

              So wearing a badge is bullying, is it?

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        • Ellenna

          My sexuality isn't an infection! No one is beating anyone over the head with anything

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  • Ratmanhomie

    I'm homophobic and this badge thing would irritate me. But you are talking about a shopkeeper who spends each and every work day pretty much standing in one spot. As a former security guard I can tell you that gets very boring. I relished the times that I got to apprehend a shoplifter. Point being your badge thing was magnified in this homophobic shopkeeper's mind: it gave his mind something to do. So pay him back by not giving him anymore business. A business owner will notice that you don't come around anymore.

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  • Ellenna

    I'm talking about more than one staff member and hardware shop workers spend a lot of time measuring timber, cutting it, carrying paint tins to people's cars and so on and in any event, boredom is a very poor excuse for homophobia.

    I wasn't giving them that much business anyway, so I don't think they'd notice if I didn't shop there any more, but it has been my hardware shop of choice because I like to support local businesses.

    Anyway I'm not going there today for other reasons but will have to do so tomorrow because of their incompetency yesterday in supplying the wrong product.

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    • Dustyair

      Why should they bow down to your so-called lifestyle, they should just kick you out, it spare the customers from your nonsense too.

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      • Ellenna

        Wearing a badge supporting ALL families, including non-heterosexual ones, is hardly expecting anyone to "bow down" to me.

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        • Dustyair

          Sounds like you're the one with problems, not them. You have a chip on your shoulder and just like bullying people over your silly sexual lifestyle.

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          • Takuto

            It seems you're doing the bullying here.
            Maybe you're the problem.

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          • Ellenna

            So wearing a badge is bullying now, is it? Really?

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    • Ratmanhomie

      So it was you. You still get my vote for IIN BBW of the year, Ellenna (come on, laugh).

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      • Ellenna

        Ha ha

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