In a reminder of what passes for right-wing “humor” these days, Belle’s Smokin BBQ in Williamstown, Kentucky (right by Ark Encounter, naturally) is selling a shirt that says “I Support LGBTQ: Liberty, Guns, Bible, Trump, BBQ.”

Hahaha… it’s “funny” because it mocks a group of people that are already marginalized and abused by conservatives. Hilarious.

Much like their food, the joke is stale.

If this is what they want to be known for — bigotry passing as “humor” — rather than their food, so be it. But they can’t seem to figure out if they want to defend this hate or apologize over it. Since the shirt received media attention, they’ve issued a public “apology” to those offended (without admitting any wrongdoing on their end) while letting people know the shirts are still on sale.

That last one is a CAPS LOCK key away from hitting peak Christian bigot, isn’t it…?

The restaurant’s owner Jamie Smith insists this is “just a play on words,” which is exactly what you’d expect an ignorant person to say. But you get the feeling he’d have a different reaction if some other barbecue joint sold shirts on Easter with a picture of Jesus on a cross saying, “We have all the crucifixins!” (Back of shirt: “Ha! Nailed it!”)

The shirt is only funny to people like Smith because he’s offending people that white evangelicals already treat like shit. Kick them while they’re down for a quick buck. It’s what Jesus would do.

Oh well. If the Christian hate leads to bad publicity, bad reviews, and a furthering of the fact that “loving the sinner” is just a lie conservatives tell themselves to pretend they’re not assholes, then I guess that’s just the price of making a cruel joke and doubling down on it.

(Thanks to Malinda for the link)

