A Creston restaurant has received backlash on Facebook this past week for new bathroom signage. 

At Julio91裸聊视频檚 Lounge (also home to Romano91裸聊视频檚 Runaway Lanes), the signs to the single-occupant stalls now indicate 91裸聊视频渂alls at birth91裸聊视频� or 91裸聊视频渘o balls at birth91裸聊视频� next to the traditional symbols for men and women. 

A photo of the bathrooms was posted on several nation-wide social media pages asking for a boycott of the business. 

91裸聊视频淛ulio91裸聊视频檚 Lounge doesn't want your business if you are a believer in human rights, safety of all, a trans person, or a lover and supporter of trans people,91裸聊视频� the post states.

91裸聊视频淚 know a few incredible trans locals who frequented Julio's regularly and praised and recommended it to many. You didn't even know they were trans and were very kind to us. It's pretty sad you decided to go to these lengths to make someone you don't understand feel hated, less than, and unsafe, but that's your prerogative!91裸聊视频�

Negative reviews have started pouring in on Julio91裸聊视频檚 Facebook and Google pages, some from people outside of Creston, calling out the 91裸聊视频渢ransphobic atmosphere91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频渂igoted behaviour.91裸聊视频�

Julio's owner Wade Romano has backed up his choice to display the signs, despite the controversial debate it has sparked in the community. 

91裸聊视频淲hat I find offensive is men in women91裸聊视频檚 bathrooms, men in girl sports, people being forced to agree with something that is offensive to them,91裸聊视频� he said in a Facebook comment. "Nobody cares."

Romano spoke with Black Press Media on Feb. 25 and said he plans to keep the bathroom signs up for the foreseeable future, adding that business has actually increased since the social media posts.

"It's an adult thing, and you've got to be an adult to have a sense of humour... They're still funny. I don't care. You can twist it however you want, but they're still funny."

When asked if he plans to connect with the local 2SLGBTQ+ community to address concerns, Romano said no. He said the signs won't be removed "unless for some reason somebody forced me to take them down."

He claimed people have been threatening people who work at Julio's, which he said has ruined any chance of discussions.

"You go around saying that stuff about people, trying to ruin their business, trying to shut them down. All it's done is make more people come in."

Romano claims members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community have worked at Julio's, past and present. He added there haven't been any concerns about the signs from employees. 

"There's nothing dangerous. There's nothing offensive. Anybody can use any bathroom here, it's not like it's designated one or the other. It's just a joke."

OUTspoken, Creston91裸聊视频檚 2SLGBTQ+ community group, have found the public signs at Julio91裸聊视频檚 Lounge to be particularly disturbing, whether it was intended as humour or not. 

91裸聊视频淚'm a 27-year-old non-binary trans person who was born in Creston and have lived here a lot of my life,91裸聊视频� said one member, who wishes to remain anonymous. 91裸聊视频淲hen I saw the signage posted, I was horrified. I was in a panic, worried that youth would see this and feel the way I had in high school here, unsafe and unwelcome. We should be working towards drawing our community members together, not making exclusionary jokes and hateful remarks."

Shanel Samadhi, spokesperson for OUTspoken, said the actions of this business will continue to cause direct harm, threatening both the mental health and physical safety of transgender people in their community.

91裸聊视频淚t sends a clear and damaging message that some human beings are less deserving of respect and dignity than others,91裸聊视频� Samadhi told the Advance. 91裸聊视频淭his rhetoric fuels hostility and emboldens those with discriminatory beliefs, giving them an invitation to openly express hate in increasingly dangerous and overt ways, forcing many people to live in constant fear.91裸聊视频�

As a community built on love, compassion, and unwavering support, OUTspoken wants Creston residents to reflect on how words and actions will shape the reputation and future of the town, especially when it comes to the impact on tourism. 

91裸聊视频淏y standing together and raising our voices, let us remember that the louder our love, the smaller the hate,91裸聊视频� said Samadhi. 91裸聊视频淟et us nurture the values of respect, safety, and inclusion for all, while supporting people and businesses that stand for love, not hate.91裸聊视频�

OUTspoken can be reached via Facebook messenger or outspoken-creston@hotmail.com. 

91裸聊视频淔or those who are struggling or feeling unsafe, please know you are not alone,91裸聊视频� said Samadhi.  91裸聊视频淵ou are welcome to reach out to us at any time.91裸聊视频�

For those in need of further support, contact Crisis Services Canada: 1-833-456-4566 (available 24/7 for anyone in crisis), Trans Lifeline: 1-877-565-8860 (available 24/7, for trans people in distress), PFLAG CANADA: 1-888-530-6777 (peer to peer support).

Educational resources on how to better understand the transgender community can be found at www.weareallies.ca and www.transcarebc.ca/education-centre.