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Darwell's Happiness Cafe (L); Trax Bar and Grill (R)
Local restaurants are hosting drag shows and inclusive tours after Darwell’s Happiness Cafe claimed they "don’t do the trans or the lesbians or gays."
Restaurants in Long Beach, Mississippi are pushing back after a local cafe offered a discount only for straight couples.
Darwell and Nettie Mechelle Yeager, a married heterosexual couple who own Darwell’s Happiness Cafe in Long Beach, posted a video to Facebook last week offering a meal discount to “the real kind of couple" — those who “can produce a child.”
“If you’re a couple — husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, guy and girl. Couple,” Darwell said in the video.
“We don’t do the trans or the lesbians or gays. I’m sorry. That’s down the street,” Nettie added.
Nettie later apologized in a statement to her personal Facebook page, writing, “I’m not perfect and I get my feelings hurt too. Not always right. But I’m human too. I’m truly sorry if you got offended or misunderstood something not meant to hurt anyone.” She has since deleted the post, and her profile picture is now of a sign that states: "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone."
Darwell also posted a comment saying he was “tired of being bullied by the Left" and defended the promotion by calling it "a special for a certain group of people for a certain time like specials are meant to be." He declared that his restaurant is now a "No Weirdos Zone."
The initial video was taken down once it started to gain traction online after another local restaurant, Trax Bar and Grill, shared a screen recording of it. Owner Jessica Notter wrote: “The disgust I feel for statements made in this video is immeasurable; and, if you watch it and find yourself agreeing with this lowlife, then I suggest you not set foot into Trax Bar."
Trax Bar and Grill is now hosting an event called "Unity in the Community" that will feature performances from local drag queens. Local influencers Your Barefoot Neighbor and Mississippi Kween are also hosting "Love the Coast Tour" where participants will visit inclusive local restaurants and bars. So far, 560 people have signed up.
William Rester, who owns Dolce Bakeshop and Radish Restaurant with his wife, Brooke, was one of the business owners to speak out against the Yeagers' comments. He told NOLA.com that their restaurants saw an influx of customers over the weekend, some of whom mentioned they were against what the Yeagers said.
"I hate it for Long Beach to have to kind of go through this, but at the same time, it's really brought out a lot of good in people. And we're seeing a lot of people coming into town to just kind of try the other businesses," Rester said. "I wish that, as a business owner, we didn't have to say that everybody was welcome. That it was just implied."
