When it comes to stating your opinion, there’s nothing like a big sign to perfectly convey your stance one topic or another. Jeff Amyx, a hardware store owner from Tennessee, displayed his stance on homosexuality by declaring gay people were not welcome in his store. The whole story began in 2015 when Amyx decided to put-up a sign that said ‘No gays allowed’ on his hardware store door. The store owner didn’t stop at the sign but chose to also sell homophobic merchandise.
Recently, the hardware store owner, who is also a Baptist minister, decided to replace the sign with one that includes more information in it. This time the sign states, “We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone who would violate our rights of freedom of speech & freedom of religion.”
Once the whole story went online there was no way back. Many users took to Twitter and even the store’s personal Yelp page to state their opinion. People encouraged others to boycott the store, and even made an entire joke out of it by reviewing the store as a gay bar or even a sex shop. “Amyx Hardware & Roofing Supplies” received so much backlash that Yelp management even started deleting the comments, but this did not stop people from posting. The owner placed a clipboard next to his store where people who agree with him can sign, however, it is nothing compared to the over 300 one star ratings on his store’s page.
Scroll down to see what people had to say about the situation, and tell us what you think!
Jeff Amyx, a hardware store owner who is also a Baptist minister, caught everyone's attention by putting a sign on his store's front door
Image credits: Amyx Hardware & Roofing Supplies
After receiving a lot of backlash, Jeff Amyx added another sign, saying that he has the right to decline service because of his religious beliefs
Image credits: Amyx Hardware & Roofing Supplies
Back in 2015, when same-sex marriage was legalized in the United States, Jeff Amyx also began to sell homophobic merchandise in his store
Image credits: Amyx Hardware & Roofing Supplies
And it’s safe to say that the Internet was not happy about it at all
People took social media to spread the message, encouraging others to boycott Amyx's store
In fact, the store's Yelp account received so many bad reviews, Yelp management started deleting comments that were mainly focused on the sign and not the shop itself
But nobody could stop the massive backlash
And even though people can sign a board next to the store to support the owner
Image credits: WATE
It's nothing compared to the reviews the store received online
People even starting joking in the review section that “Amyx Hardware & Roofing Supplies” was actually an undercover gay bar
Everyone came to the store's Yelp page to ridicule the owner and his sign
Others even turned to the Bible to prove their point
