Back in June, the US Supreme Court dealt a significant blow to LGBTQ+ rights when they ruled that a Colorado-based web designer could turn away LGBTQ+ patrons due to her religious beliefs. 

Two weeks after the devastating ruling, a hair salon owner in Traverse City, Michigan, made headlines after announcing her intention to discriminate against trans people. 

“If a human identifies as anything other than a man/woman, please seek services at a local pet groomer. You are not welcome at this salon. Period,” wrote Salon 8 Hair Lab co-owner Christine Geiger in a now-deleted Facebook post. 

“Should you request to have a particular pronoun used please not we may simply refer to you as ‘hey you.’” 

Since uploading the disgusting anti-trans post, an array of LGBTQ+ activists and allies have condemned Geiger and Salon 8 Hair Lab, including hair care company Jack Winn Pro. 

“Jack Winn Pro strongly believes in and supports LGBTQ+ rights. We are committed to creating an inclusive, respectful environment for all – regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic that defines who they are,” the company wrote via Instagram on 13 July.

“It has come to our attention that disturbing comments have been attributed to one of our product users. We want to make it clear that we disapprove of and reject hate speech in any form. Such actions go against the very values we hold dear and strive to uphold.” 

Jack Winn Pro then announced that Geiger and Salon 8 Hair Lab would no longer have authorization to represent their brand or products. 

“We wish to emphasize that the opinions expressed by individuals using our products do not reflect the views or values of our organization,” they added. 

“We are appalled by the reported incident, and we will investigate it thoroughly to ensure appropriate actions are taken.” 

In response to Jack Winn Pro’s statement, customers and LGBTQ+ activists flocked to the post’s comment section to praise the company for their solidarity. 

One person wrote: “@jackwinnpro thank you for representing not just yourselves but our whole industry. You handled that beautifully. Thank you.”

Another Instagram user commented: “Good to see this company that I have come to love standing against hate!”

In addition to Jack Winn Pro, the Traverse City Mayor Richard Lewis released a statement condemning Geiger and Salon 8 Hair Lab. 

“We are disheartened to hear of any discriminatory behaviour in our region. The City of Traverse City has valued itself on providing a safe environment for all people,” he said, per The Associated Press.