A waitress from Fort Wayne, Indiana, has recently gone viral after posting a Facebook status about a homophobic comment made to her by a customer. Michele Crider had just finished servicing two customers at the Dash-In restaurant that she works in, when she found a surprising note. One of the customers had written at the top of their receipt, 'I DON'T TIP F*GS'.
In a video posted to Facebook, Michele called out the customer for their behaviour, hoping that her message got back to the man in question somehow. "You sir, are a sad excuse for a human," she said in the video, which has now amassed over 700,000 views.
"I am all about people being entitled to their own opinions. I would like to say it's ok, but it's not ok. The fact that this has just become such an acceptable thing in our country. It doesn't matter whether you are gay, whether you are black, if you have a learning disability; it's OK now to spread that kind of hate. To say those kind of things to people.
"Why did you feel the need, sir, to write that on there? If you don't like gay people, then that's whatever. It is what it is. But to just say something like that? Just don't tip me."
Aside from questioning why exactly the customer felt the need to share such a hateful message, she then went on to discuss how much she has to offer, and all the dimensions there are to her life that he is not considering.
"When you look at me, all you see is a f*g. But I need you to know something: I'm a lot more than that.
"I'm a mother. I work my butt off, sir, to pay my bills, to put my son into a good school and pay that tuition. I work my butt off to do things like that. I am a 33-year-old woman who is just now able to get on her own two feet and do things on her own. And then I have people like you who think it's acceptable to try to knock those people down.
"I hope you do not have children, sir. I hope you aren't raising a little human to grow up and be a bigot like you. I feel very, very bad for you."
Fortunately, her workmates made her feel better about the situation, and even provided her with flowers, and a card that read, "We all love you."
Following the incident, the restaurant released a statement in which they showed their support for Michele. They wrote:
"On Feburary 19, 2019, one of our customers made a prejudicial comment to one of our employees. The Dash-In prides itself on providing a welcoming, safe haven for customers and employees from all walks of life.
"This incident only strengthens our resolve to be a force of good in our community. We will continue to support those in our extended Dash-In family. We eagerly welcome all those who share these values and can't wait to see you soon."
In addition to this, The Dash-In's owner, Emily Underwood, has revealed that there have been some positives to come out of the incident. Speaking to WPTA21, she described how the local community had supported Michele after hearing the news.
"Today we have been getting lots and lots of phone calls," she told the news station. "People dropping off gifts, people dropping off money, wanting to give Michele the tips she deserves, and just people wanting to show their support."
Not only that, but a GoFundMe was set up for her tip to be replaced with one worth $1,000. However, the campaign quickly reached its goal, and has now vastly exceeded it - recently passing the $7,000 mark. The man responsible for the note has been identified, and Underwood confirmed that he will no longer be served on the premises.
"If you want to sit there and you want to spread your hate and you want to say these hateful things, try to understand what it is that you're saying," Michele says in the conclusion of her video. "I'm not a f*g. I'm a dyke."
