A bookstore who told people who vote ‘no’ in the same-sex marriage postal survey should ‘never visit the shop again’ has been slammed on social media.
Sticky Institute, a Melbourne-based store selling fan-made magazines, has been the target of trolls ever since posting the controversial status to Facebook on Thursday.
‘If you vote ‘No’ in the forthcoming plebiscite, please never visit our shop again,’ the bookstore – which is open about being a space supporting queer artists – wrote.
But Sticky Institute’s blunt view did not appeal to everyone, with the store receiving hundreds of expletive laden, negative comments and 1-star reviews on their page in the days since.
A bookstore who told people who vote ‘no’ in the same-sex marriage postal survey they should ‘never visit the shop again’ has been slammed by anti-gay trolls on social media
Sticky Institute (pictured), a Melbourne-based store selling fan-made magazines, has been the target of trolls ever since posting the controversial status to Facebook on Thursday
While the post soon went viral with thousands of likes and hundreds of comments, it also became a target for those against legalising same-sex marriage.
Slamming the volunteer bookstore for its efforts to push an ‘agenda’, trolls labelled it everything from ‘pathetic’ to ‘bigoted’.
‘I hated the way they push their political views on their customers,’ one troll wrote in his review.
‘Refusing to serve anyone who doesn’t share your world-view is pathetic really,’ one said.
‘I’d give no stars but can’t. As an adult with my own brain i don’t like businesses telling me how to vote on a subject…’ another said.
But even as the animosity towards them mounted, the shop stood by their status and were supported by hundreds online who left 5-star reviews on their Facebook page.
But even as the animosity (pictured) towards them mounted the shop stood by their comments and were supported by hundreds online who left 5-star reviews on their Facebook page
In addition to hitting back at the trolls on Facebook, the shop released a statement confirming they would not be welcoming those who vote ‘no’ to their store.
‘Since we began in 2001, Sticky has been a queer political artists’ space and we have always reserved the right to eject any person we feel may be harmful to our volunteers, our patrons, and our community,’ .
‘The post that was made on Thursday night may seem harsh but it is definitely in line with our morals and values as a collective.
‘We are not the thought police, but we are also not obligated to tolerate hate speech, nor are we are required to welcome bigoted views into our space, so we won’t.’