'Nasty' Response Compels Lockport Biz Owner to Pull Down Transgender Sign

LOCKPORT, IL — Of all the controversial signs posted outside his pawn shop, Richard Tisch says this one evoked the largest response.

"Outhouses in Rear for Transgenders," the sign glowed outside Will County Loan Co., 1111 E. 9th St., for less than a week, Tisch said.

Tisch spoke with Patch about the sign on Wednesday, calling it "just satire." But after being bombarded with phone calls and feedback—"85 percent" of which he asserts was positive—regarding the message on the sign, he pulled the words down a day later. While it's not unusual for Tisch to change out the sign to keep it fresh, he admits the public's reaction played a part in his decision.

"At the time, I didn’t realize how much aggravation it would cause," Tisch said. "It has created a bunch of aggravation I don’t need."

Tisch was flooded with phone calls at both the business and his home. Reviews—some negative, some positive—were written on the business's Facebook and Yelp pages.

"I agree, hate and discrimination goes both ways," wrote one Yelp user. "I don't hate nor discriminate this owner personally. But as he has a right to post a picture that may offend many people, I have the right to say I would never bring my business here. ... Bottom line, you absolutely have a right to your own opinions and thoughts, but here is some advice: 'The only thing you change by insulting someone is the respect they have for you.' You are a business, your actions speak loudly. Once you lose respect, you lose business."

"Love your signs!! Keep it up!!!!! Crybabies don't spend money anyway," wrote a fan on Facebook.

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The sign—which some might call cheeky and others deemed offensive—went up last week as Tisch's response to nationwide discussion about inclusivity measures set in place for transgender individuals. Most notable in the business world, Target announced transgender team members and guests may use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity. That action was supplementary to Target's support of the federal Equality Act, legislation that would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include sexual orientation and gender identity, and ban discrimination in areas including employment, housing, access to credit, public education and accommodations.

The Obama administration on Friday issued guidance directing public schools to allow transgender students to use bathrooms matching their gender identity. And if they refuse, they risk losing federal dollars.

Also this week, the U.S. Justice Department filed suit against state of North Carolina over its transgender bathroom law, calling it "impermissibly discriminatory." North Carolina's law already has many businesses, governments and entertainers, including the city of Chicago and Bruce Springsteen, refusing to do business or perform in North Carolina.

Tisch, who has used the sign to draw attention to his business for 25 years, said maybe he broached a touchy subject, but added that people who were offended "maybe have had their sense of humor surgically removed."

"Anyone with an IQ above 100 would know that sign was satire," Tisch told Patch. "I thought it was absolutely crazy, tons of humor."

Many vowed never to patronize the shop, also attacking Tisch and calling him a bigot. It was an unfair label, he argues.

"It’s unfortunate that people can remark about my ideology and they have no idea what it is, based upon something I’ve done for 25 years," Tisch said.

Tisch has owned the shop for 34 years, and though he's seen some response to his signs, this one seems to have stirred up the most.

"I've been put on the map because of those signs," Tisch told Patch earlier this week. "I object to people calling me racist and bigot, because I'm not that. It's so easy for them to say that."

On Friday, he said: "This is the first time people have gotten nasty over it. Saying bad things about my business, and they’ve never been in my door."

He calls the response "almost a testament to the stupidity of mankind.

"It’s been a bad experience, I touched on something I shouldn’t have touched on. ...

"People are waiting in line to be offended by something. For me to put that sign up there, I’ll never do that again. You can’t make humor out of some subjects, apparently."