Sam Jay: Taking Aim - Metro Weekly, August 6, 2020

theFeed
FOX56
A
GROCERY STORE IN PENNSYLVANIA WAS SUBjected
to protests after displaying a sign accusing LGBTQ
people of spreading “deadly diseases and sickness.”
Wenger’s Grocery Outlet, in Mifflinburg, Penn., caused outrage
last month after creating a sign asking customers to be respectful
of those choosing not to wear face masks to help prevent the
spread of COVID-19.
It featured misinformation about the coronavirus, in addition
to anti-LGBTQ language accusing LGBTQ people of living a
sinful lifestyle.
The sign questioned the severity of the coronavirus pandemic,
which has led to more than 114,000 people becoming infected
and more than 7,200 deaths in the state, and suggested that the
virus was a “political agenda.”
It also featured a fake quote from U.S. Rep. Alexandria
Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) claiming that the New York congresswoman
had urged for businesses to remain closed until after
November to harm Donald Trump’s re-election chances.
But it was a section at the bottom about LGBTQ people that
drew particular ire from locals, the Daily Item reports. It accused
LGBTQ people of living a “lifestyle” of “sin,” and accused them
of spreading “deadly diseases and sickness.”
“There are people who got covid19 and not all the others
living in the same house got it,” the sign said. “This proves that
covid19 IS NOT AS CONTAGIOUS AS THE NEWS MEDIA
AND MANY OTHERS HAVE BLOWN IT UP TO BE. A lot of
these same people support LGBTQ. This lifestyle is sin in God’s
eyes and spreads deadly diseases and sicknesses.”
Selling Hate
Pennsylvania store protested for sign saying LGBTQ people
‘spread deadly diseases.’ By Rhuaridh Marr
After heavy criticism, the sign was removed and employees
in the store began to wear face masks, according to Daily Item.
“I hope they did it for the right reasons,” one resident said.
“I’m glad they took down the horrible sign and I’m hoping they
apologize for the comment about the LGBTQ community.”
Patricia Arduini, president of the Susquehanna Valley Ethical
Society (SVES), told Daily Item that she hoped Mark Wenger,
owner of the grocery store, had removed the sign and implemented
masks after further researching the seriousness of the
COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’m also still not hearing a meaningful acknowledgement or
apology to the LGBTQ community,” Arduini said. “It was a very
divisive statement and not appropriate in uniting a community.”
After the removal of the sign, a Pride rally was held in the
street outside the store. Dozens of activists and allies lined the
town’s main street, wearing coordinated t-shirts in small groups
to form the colors of the Pride flag.
Speaking to FOX56, I Am Alliance founder Victoria Mathews
— who helped organize the rally — said those who attended were
“here to love…not for hate,” and hoped the show of support for
LGBTQ people would “bring unity and a greater understanding.”
“I am a gay man in central PA who grew up here, around
here,” Trevor Leon, who attended the rally, told FOX56. “It’s
hard.”
Leon added: “Some little gay kid growing up here in Central
PA is going to see this and see all the support and hopefully it
helps.”
Counter-protesters in cars featuring Confederate and U.S.
18 AUGUST 6, 2020 • METROWEEKLY.COM