Mississippi businesses support LGBTQ+ community after local cafe offers ‘straight couples’ discount

Businesses in Long Beach, Mississippi, have offered their support to the LGBTQ+ community after Darwell’s Happiness Cafe offered a discount exclusively for straight couples.

Darwell and Nettie Mechelle Yeager, a couple who own Darwell’s Happiness Cafe in Long Beach, took to Facebook last week to advertise a discount to “the real kind of couple” who “can produce a child”. 

Darwell said in the video: “If you’re a couple — husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, guy and girl couple…We’ll give you something for free.”

“We don’t do the trans or the lesbians or gays. I’m sorry. That’s down the street,” Nettie said.

Nettie later wrote a statement via her personal page, which read: “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 previous post and added a photo to a profile picture which reads: “We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.”

Darwell commented that he was “tired of being bullied by the left” and stood by the promotion, explaining that it is “a special for a certain group of people for a certain time like specials are meant to be”. 

He added that the restaurant is a “No Weirdos Zone”.

The local community stands by LGBTQ+ people

However, other local restaurants have banded together in support of the LGBTQ+ community. 

Trax Bar and Grill owner Jessica Notter shared a screen recording of the video and 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.”

The venue is putting on an event, “Unity in the Community”, which will see performances by local drag queens. 

Influencers Your Barefoot Neighbor and Mississippi Kween are hosting a “Love the Coast Tour” to share “love, support, and community to locally owned bars and restaurants who lead with kindness and welcome everyone to their tables”. Over 580 people have responded to the event.

If this story has affected you, call the LGBT National Help Centre on 888 843 4564 Monday-Friday 1 pm-9 pm Pacific Time or 4 pm-Midnight Eastern Time or on Saturdays 9 am-2 pm Pacific Time or Noon-5 pm Eastern Time.