TRAVERSE CITY (WWJ) - A hair studio in a popular Northern Michigan town is the center of swift public backlash after the business owner said they will no longer serve transgender and queer people.
The Studio 8 Hair Lab off Eighth Street in Traverse City said in a since-deleted Facebook post that "if a human identifies as anything other than a man/woman please seek services at a local pet groomer."
"You are not welcome at this salon. Period," the post goes on to say. "Should you request to have a particular pronoun used, please note we may simply refer to you as 'hey you.' Regardless of MI HB 4744,"
The sentence references legislature signed by Gov. Whitmer back in March that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Almost as soon as the message was posted, reaction on social media and to the salon's Google page was swift and strong.
As of Wednesday, the salon's Facebook page was unsearchable and the post deleted, but not before screenshots of the original message circulated online with angry comments from locals attached.
"We are appalled at the news of Studio 8 Hair Lab’s refusal to serve LGBTQ+ people in Traverse City," the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Grand Traverse said in a social media post. "We affirm that all people have dignity and worth. Hate has no home here."
Another poster wrote, "this is what our Supreme Court has unleashed upon our country... Standing up for your political beliefs is one thing. This is not an American expressing free speech. This has absolutely nothing to do with religious beliefs. This is dehumanizing a class of people. This is what Nazi's [sic] did to Jews."
In yet another comment, another person said, "if your life is so full of hate that THIS is how you think of people, including those that I LOVE, then I sincerely hope you either have a true repentance or that your business goes under."
The business' Instagram account had been switched to private with the following profile message: "A private CONSERVATIVE business that does not cater to woke ideologies."
An outpouring of negative reviews on the salon's Google review page saw a lot of people calling out the "hateful" message. In response to a one star comment, owner Christine Geiger said she wasn't opposed to the "LBG" (Lesbian, gay and bisexual) community, but found issue with the "TQ+" (Transgender, queer or questioning) individuals.
'LBG are more than welcome, however the rest of it is not something I support. This stance was taken to insure that clients have the best experience and I am admitting that since I am not willing to play the pronoun game or cater to requests outside of what I perceive as normal, this probably isn't the best option for that type of client,' Geiger stated.
"There are over 800 license stylists in the County," she continued. "There are plenty of salons/stylists willing to cater to what I will no. This is a a free county and I am not a slave to any narrative."
A handful of negative reviews managed to still be visible on Wednesday after social media posters claimed they were being removed.
"I cannot condone a business that blatantly discriminates against members of the community and propagates hate against queer folk. Very disappointing to see in a great city like this. Do better, Christine," one commenter said.
Another voiced the same sentiments.
"Studio 8 Hair Lab has put out a statement that queer people are not welcome, so I was denied service before I even entered the building," they wrote.