Florida Business Displays Homophobic Slur on Sign Over Memorial Day Weekend

A business outside of Tallahassee, Florida has put up a homophobic sign over Memorial Day weekend. It reads, “Veterans get a day f***** and child molesters get a month why.”

The message fronts Rick’s Repair Shop on U.S. Highway 90. Per the Tallahassee Democrat, the shop is known locally for its eye-catching, and sometimes controversial, signage.

The sign coincided with Memorial Day and precedes the beginning of Pride Month by just days. Despite the shop’s claim that “veterans get a day,” Memorial Day is just one of several holidays celebrated during National Military Appreciation Month each May.

A number of Florida government officials have taken to social media to decry the business and its hateful messaging.

Jackson Peel, communication director for the Democratic Caucus of the Florida House of Representatives, went to see the sign in person before sharing his disgust on Twitter.

"This kind of bigotry should have no place in our Tallahassee community. It is an embarrassment and the people at Rick’s Repair Shop should be ashamed of their foolish, hurtful, and wrong words," he wrote in a viral tweet.

Tallahassee City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow also voiced his criticism on Twitter, stating: "I’m not sure the sad, miserable place a person must be in to take the time to put this up, but I do know the majority of folks in Tallahassee reject this hatred and respect the freedom to be who you are, love who you want and support LGBTQ rights every month of the year.”

This controversy comes amid Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis's continuing efforts to restrict LGBTQ+ rights in the state. And earlier this month -- on the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia -- a digital traffic sign outside of Orlando was hacked to display "KILL ALL GAYS." These and other attacks have made some LGBTQ+ Florida residents leave the state.