A video has sparked outrage after an anti-LGBTQIA+ activist demanded a shop take down its Pride flag.
Conservative social media influencer Ethan Schmidt previously stated his plans to 'hunt' anyone who supports the LGBTQIA+ community in a video posted online in May.
A recently released video has revealed the 24-year-old entering a PetSmart store and harassing its employees by asking them to take down the Pride flag.
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The footage has sparked fierce backlash online against Schmidt, but also an outpouring of support for how the store's employees handled the situation.
In the video, Schmidt can be heard questioning one of PetSmart's workers as to what the flag is, which is hanging above the checkout.
When informed it's a Pride flag, Schmidt proceeds to ask the shop worker to 'take down' the flag, his reason being it 'offends [him] greatly'.
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The worker then calls for a manager to come and assist her with the situation.
Schmidt carries on: "Yeah that stuff is satanic, we can't be having that, especially at PetSmart."
Schmidt repeats his question to one of the store's managers.
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However, when the manager explains the store supports the LGBTQ+ community, the 24-year-old responds: "You support paedophilia and child sexualisation? Because that's what that stands for, you know? You're sexualising kids with that flag man? I'm very offended and I would like for it to be taken down. Respect the customers [...] and please take it down."
Of course, there are many studies that refute what Schmidt it saying.
Schmidt also claimed the rainbow flag is 'from Satan' and the 'real rainbow' is from God.
After questioning the employee's own beliefs, Schmidt is asked to leave the store, another worker is brought over and the employees threaten to call the police.
Support for the store and its workers has been flooding in online.
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One said: "Thank you @PetSmart for supporting the LGBTQIA+ community!
"Give these employees a raise – they did you proud!"
"Serious props to that manager at the end – that says volumes about Petsmart and their values, I'll be happy to keep shopping there. :)," another wrote.
A third commented: "'This is Pet Smart.' That was great. These people have to clean up animal pee and deal with customers all day – they aren't going to deal with this BS. Excellent way to handle it."
One Twitter user even suggested a way to ban Schmidt from stores to avoid such a situation occurring again.
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"Businesses should just put his photo up on their doors letting him know he’s not allowed on the property," they said.
Another responded: "Apparently he's already banned from Target stores in Arizona for pulling similar stunts."
Other users couldn't get over how Schmidt got the name of the store wrong in the final seconds of the video, prompting him to be swiftly – and epically – corrected by another of the store's workers.
"Shame on Petco," the 24-year-old said.
The employee said: "This is PetSmart."
*Mic drop*
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the LGBT Foundation on 0345 3 30 30 30, 10am–6pm Monday to Friday, or email [email protected]
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence contact Mindline Trans+ on 0300 330 5468. The line is open 8pm–midnight Mondays and Fridays and is run by trans volunteers
