A heterosexual couple who display a rainbow flag next to an American flag outside their bed and breakfast in the small town of Meade, Kansas have now found themselves the target of local bigots and a newspaper that they say is trying to put them out of business. After the local paper ran an article about the flag, a nightmare of bigot hell broke loose that had nothing to do with those other haters from Kansas:
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.
The B&B’s owner, J.R. Knight, is standing his ground despite the hate he is facing from certain townspeople.
Said Knight: Any gay or lesbian people that do stop by will be treated with the best service I can give you. When this rainbow flag shreds, I will buy another one, and another one, and another one – just like my American flag, I’ll buy another one.”
This man is a hero in my book. When in Kansas, stay at the Lakeway Hotel, and somebody give this man a medal! J.R. Knight, we applaud you.
Rainbow Flag Creates Controversy [kbsd]
