A newly opened political-themed bar in Washington, D.C., has been forced to remove Republican political symbols from its building after a community backlash.
The bar, dubbed “Political Patty's,” reportedly angered some local residents with a Republican elephant and Democratic donkey as part of its logo painted on the front of the building. Local residents attacked the bar on social media, arguing that a establishment displaying Republican symbols is not welcome in an area surrounded by gay bars. According to the Washington paper.
Just before Tuesday's grand opening, the Political Parties removed the symbols of both parties, saying they perceived the “red elephant” symbol to be “harmful to the community.”
“Shortly after our logo was painted on the building facade, we realized that the depiction of a red elephant was harmful to the community,” owners Andrew Benbow and Sidney Bradford wrote. are. in a statement Posted on social media. “And out of respect, we decided to change the logo by removing both the donkey and the elephant.”
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The Republican Party (GOP) elephant mascot is on display in the exhibit hall during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Friday, February 28, 2020 in National Harbor, Maryland, United States. (Getty Images)
Although Benbow and Bradford are on opposite political ends, they both support Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. They said they were surprised by the backlash against the court and had hoped the court would foster discussion and “encourage unity.” According to roll call.
The co-owners said in a statement that they plan to keep the bar's original name and repaint the word “Politics” in large blue letters to “balance” the red door and windows. They also defended the bar's bipartisan themes, saying it had received unfair reviews from critics.
“Political Parties aims to be a fun and inclusive space that pokes fun at politics, rather than the pain it often causes,” the couple said.
“We believe the recent online backlash we have received is mean-spirited, especially given our original and continuing intent to be a space that welcomes all people, including members of the LGBTQ community. “Homophobia, transphobia, racism, and other forms of bigotry are antithetical to our very existence as Black Americans,” they continued.
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Democratic donkeys and Republican elephants outside the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) (Getty Images)
The co-owners also reiterated their right to operate a business here and said the backlash was symbolic of society rushing to judgment.
“What's happening online at Patty's House directly parallels what's happening every day in society. Our business is to judge us by our outward appearance before anyone has a chance to know what's inside us. Too often, members of racial minorities, people with disabilities, the LGBTQ community, and others are victims of this type of bias, which can lead to tragic consequences.'' The statement continued.
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