K X.
Yelp
This is known as a used bookstore, I'm told, but most of the books are new. Everybody is very kind though; that's the best feature here. However, I found this sign (photo attached) at the register incredibly offensive (even "triggering," to reuse a common modern victimization trope).
First off, "queer" is a completely offensive term for gay people. Its use suddenly made me feel unwelcome as a gay person. Secondly, to ask people to default to "they/them" pronouns is arrogantly rude. Doing so diminishes the very existence of homosexuals and is homophobic, not to mention misogynistic. But the weirdest part of the sign is, when speaking in second person, we do not use pronouns anyway! So the sign is not even necessary.
If someone gets "misgendered," it's hardly fair to blame or ask the majority of the population to change its behavior. That's a narcissistic request. When people become trans, it's part of the deal to expect misgendering. It's not on the rest of us to have to address, as we haven't done anything to alter or change ourselves and don't deserve to be lectured as if we've done some wrong just by existing.
I'll not be returning to this establishment so long as such an offensive sign remains posted.
Also note the sign omits "gay" people. That's telling. If "queer" were meant to describe all of the alphabet community, why the need to spell it out and separate "trans?"
It's all just...so very rude.
And if my review gets censored or removed from Yelp, I'll consider it another act of homophobic hatred.