Knight says the local Meade newspaper is trying to put him out of business and was frustrated when it ran an article about the flag and did not even bother to contact him regarding why he put it up. In fact, most people we spoke to in Meade said they didn’t even know what the flag meant until the article ran. But once word got around, the reaction was harsh.Luckily, not everyone is apeshit crazy:
Knight says the radio station has called him threatening to remove the restaurant’s commercials if he does not remove the flag. A local pastor stopped by said it was equivalent to hanging women’s panties on a flag pole. When Knight jokingly said he might consider that – the preacher said he would have him arrested.
His business has suffered - down to only a few local customers. The folks in Meade who've boycotted say it's too offensive for them to eat there.
Local resident, Keith Klassen says the flag is a slap in the face to the conservative community of Meade. “To me it’s just like running up a Nazi flag in a Jewish neighborhood. I can’t walk into that establishment with that flag flying because to me that’s saying that I support what the flag stands for and I don’t,” says Klassen.
Knight says it’s not meant to be a gay pride symbol but he doesn’t mind if that’s how it’s taken.If anyone has the misfortune of passing through Kansas, perhaps you could consider a stay at the Lakeway Hotel, ironically located an hour from Liberal, Kansas.
"Any gay or lesbian people that do stop by will be treated with the best service I can give you,” says Knight.
[via Pandagon, via Pharyngula]
