A local business owner from Iowa is accused of throwing a homophobic temper tantrum during his town’s Pride celebration.
It all started when two port-a-potties were placed near John Wisor’s restaurant during Pride Fest in East Davenport, Iowa last weekend.
That’s when at least half a dozen volunteers say Wisor, who owns a restaurant called 11th Street Precinct, flew into a rage. According to witnesses, he ran out onto the street and shouted antigay insults at them, including calling them “f*cking queers” and “f*ggots.”
“He said you need to move these, you need to move these you f*cking queer or I’m going to move them myself”, Hootman tells local media. “We said we were not going to move the toilets, and he said, ‘Yes, you are, you f*cking queers!'”
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Wisor, of course, denies everything and is accusing Pride organizers of being overly dramatic.
“This is typical, them ginning up stories,” he claims, adding, “I’ve been down that road, too; everyone’s got a witness!”
Wisor says he feels the placement of the port-a-potties was disrespectful.
“Everything stems from poor planning, execution, communication, and utter lack of respect!” he laments. “They put those urinals right outside my front door! Does it take a rocket scientist to see that it’ll stink and come into my business?”
But Quad-City Times reports that the two toilets were on the street but were not in front of Wisor’s business like he claims. Not only that, but they had signs posted on them that said, “Not for public use.”
Related: Homophobic Bar Owner Goes Off On Gay Couple, Internet Goes Off On Homophobic Bar Owner
Since Wisor’s alleged homophobic outburst, many on social media have vowed to boycott the 11th Street Precinct Bar and Grill.
Despite Wisor’s insults, Hootman says he and the other volunteers “stood our ground.”
“Like, we’re here, we’re not letting you win,” he says. “We had permission to be here, and we’re not going to roll over just because someone yells at us and calls us names.”
“[It’s] ice to know the community at large is very supportive here, and it makes me feel welcomed,” Hootman says.
Related: Gay bar owner’s racist history comes back to haunt him, but he would still like your business
Troyfight
This was strangely entertaining with conflicting reports…. But bottom line: if Wisor had never said or done anything……NO ONE WOULD CARE.
Chrisk
The irony is that he went all homophobic rant for nothing since the toilets weren’t even open to the public.
I hope the bigot enjoyed his business while it lasted.
https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-11th-street-precinct-bar-and-grill-davenport
Dr. Arthur Frederick Ide
Living in Iowa, we will boycott his business if it still exists.
nursentx
His comment exemplifies bigotry – “This is typical, them ginning up stories,”.
girldownunder
Who places two port-o-potties in the street and then marks them “not for public use”???
Sam6969
The bar owner seems to have a history of bad temper and racist slurs.
With a bit of communication skills he may have obtained from the Pride organizers that the placement of the port-a-potties be moved. Too bad for the people working for him.
DCguy
Typical of “THEM” ginning up stories”.
Quick hint, if you’re trying to pretend you aren’t a bigot, maybe try to hide your bigotry a little better.
Goforit
Ummm I have a problem with both sides of this story. Yes, the restaurant owner is a bigot. They are everywhere. If you cant educate them, then just ignore them. On the other hand…..you put port-a-potties on the street for a parade with a sign saying do not use? What are they there for then? Did they have a lock on them? I would not want them in front of my restaurant either. I don’t think that we are getting the whole story here.
basicguy58
This is my hometown and from what I’ve heard about this guy, he’s a real tool. So it doesn’t surprise me he’s got that kind of attitude. Although, part of me wonders if it’s just a way to get free advertising. I don’t live there now, so I’m not sure why they would have port-a-potties there for a pride parade since the only gay bar I know of there, is on the other end of downtown and the streets there are so narrow and conjested with parking. But I guess there is a park over there..