The owner of a Wisconsin restaurant owner defended gay rights on social media – and the local LGBT community thanked her for it.

Despina “Gracie” Kozidis had posted on the La Crosse Foodie public Facebook page about her establishment, Gracie’s Gyros and Wraps.

Following the Supreme Court’s legalisation of same-sex marriage, she had applied the rainbow Pride filter to her profile picture.

According to the La Crosse Tribune, local Tea Party representative Greg Luce commented, saying: “Hi Despina. I saw your post on La Crosse Foodie. I love gyros, but I detest people with rainbow filters on their picture.

“It’s an abomination that we are being forced to condone deviant sexual behaviour. I will NOT be visiting your restaurant, I’m sorry.”

Ms Kozidis responded, with help from her daughter, saying: “That’s great! We prefer to have accepting, coexisting consumers.

“It seems we have come to an agreement that it is best for both parties that you do not visit my business.

“Thank you.”

Moved by her support, out gay local Michael Shaw created a Facebook event, entitled, “Spread Love and Good Food” to promote Gracie’s Gyros and Wraps.

However, after the page took off online with hundreds of people pleding to support the restaurant. A number descended on the restaurant this week to indulge in both tolerance and gyros.

Mr Shaw said to La Crosse Tribune: “My original thought was that a handful of my friends could come down, but 300 people are so much cooler.”

The family were overwhelmed by the public show of support.

Ms Kozidis added: “I lost one person, but I gained hundreds. I was crying actually.”