Showdown At The Old State Saloon
In early June, the Old State Saloon in Eagle, Idaho, set the internet ablaze by declaring June "Heterosexual Awesomeness Month." This bar is a caricature of what America thinks of Idaho. A "Don't Tread on Me" rattlesnake poised to strike is framed above an upright piano in the corner, and a sign promotes Christian Singles Mingle. Timber trim and free coffee for those who open carry add to the ambiance. A place where those who identify as conservative could feel welcome.
With one provocative social media post, Mark Fitzpatrick, the bar’s owner, transformed his local watering hole into the epicenter of a cultural clash. The saloon’s promotions—free draft beer for men in "heterosexual male" attire and discounts for heterosexual couples—were timed to coincide with LGBTQ+ Pride Month. This led to outrage from LGBTQ+ allies and a flood of attacks on social media against the bar. The predictable backlash was welcomed.
Fitzpatrick, a former California law enforcement officer who relocated to Idaho seeking a community more aligned with his beliefs, understands the power of confrontation.
His justification for the Pride Month promotion? A religious conviction that acting on homosexual desires is sinful, citing 1 John 2:6 to argue that true followers of Christ would not persist in this sin. This sentiment resonates deeply with many Christian conservatives who find Pride parades and events push their boundaries beyond the Overton window.
Many find LGBTQ+ sexualized public displays offensive. These in-your-face tactics often spur a counter-reaction. Some, like Fitzpatrick, see it as an opportunity. His marketing promotion got national attention, especially from right-leaning media. Overnight, tens of thousands of people followed the bar on social media, and business boomed. Catchy promotions like “Beers For Breeders” fill bar stools.
This was just the first step in Fitzpatrick’s plan to become a far-right media influencer. Fitzpatrick’s Old State Saloon is not merely a venue for conservative Christian values; it has also become a platform for promoting fringe theories. The saloon hosted an event titled "NASA Lies — Flat Earth 101," followed by another on Flat Earth biblical cosmology featuring Austin Whitsitt, who has also appeared on Alex Jones's InfoWars to teach Biblical Flat Earth Theory.
Fitzpatrick is a talented marketer. After filling his bar with excitable conservatives, Fitzpatrick began by asking who believed there was cheating in the 2020 election, which many patrons enthusiastically agreed with. He then promoted open-carry coffee events, asserting that visible firearms would tactically intimidate liberals. After warming up the crowd with these agreeable messages, Fitzpatrick introduced Whitsitt, who presented his flat earth theories under the guise of Christian cosmology and slowly brought many doubters around to his way of thinking.
Fitzpatrick’s plan shows owning the libs by leaning into an anti-LGBTQ+ bias is a profitable venture. Embracing the backlash and doubling down is all part of the confrontational playbook. Later he went on Stew Peter’s show to amplify his anti-LGBTQ+ marketing stunt. Peters, a well-known anti-Semitic White Christian Nationalist and promoter of flat earth theories, has openly called for installing a monarchy to replace our current form of government.
The ideological alignment Stew Peters and Mark Fitzpatrick is disturbing.
One of the most troubling aspects of this event is the dangerous rhetoric it perpetuates. Widely spread narratives that paint all LGBTQ+ individuals as pedophiles and groomers are not just inaccurate—they are perilously harmful. This kind of othering rhetoric can have devastating real-world consequences. As one conservative LGBTQ+ member poignantly stated, while they do not support the larger movement’s in-your-face tactics, "Pride is important because someone tonight still believes they are better off dead than being gay." This underscores the profound impact such divisive acts can have on vulnerable individuals.
We all likely know someone who is part of the LGBTQ+ community—a friend, a family member, or a colleague. Whether we realize it or not, our actions and words send powerful messages about who we value and how we extend compassion. The stunt at Old State Saloon may have been designed to assert traditional values, but it ultimately exposed a deeply held bias towards those with whom they feel uncomfortable.
Fitzpatrick’s tactic is clear: use the Bible and hot-button conservative issues to create a larger audience for his political channel, Braveritas, and to pack his bar, lining his pockets with profits.
Trump raked in millions after receiving felony convictions for a cover-up. Conservatives had no issue with him using hush money to buy the silence of a pornstar he cheated on his wife with to win an election. Like a true conflict entrepreneur, Fitzpatrick likely saw this signal as an opportunity to profit off a movement devoid of genuine morals while marketing it under the guise of Christian conservative principles.
Conservatives champion liberty and freedom as tenets of their political faith. Creating events that push the idea that one's religion trumps the freedom of others challenges the very notion of being a true conservative.
When did being a conservative equate to being confrontational and seeking to curtail the liberty of those with whom you disagree?
Fitzpatrick’s tactics reflect this troubling shift, where pursuing personal gain overrides the commitment to genuine conservative principles. The Old State Saloon's "Heterosexual Awesomeness Month" was a masterclass in performative provocation, exposing the hypocrisy of espousing faith-based principles while engaging in divisive, attention-seeking behavior. As a conservative, it’s disheartening to see such tactics overshadow the true tenets of our faith, which call for love, compassion, and inclusivity.
If we adhere to true conservative principles founded in morality, we must strive for genuine dialogue and understanding. Our faith, if it is to mean anything, must be reflected in actions that embrace compassion rather than celebrate confrontation. We must ask ourselves: How do our actions reflect Christ’s example of love and compassion we claim to hold in our hearts? By prioritizing genuine understanding over performative acts, we can foster a community embodying the values we profess and showing our true colors.
About the Author
Gregory Graf is the creator of Political Potatoes and a lifelong Conservative Republican whose articles often criticize the hypocrisy committed by far-right grifters who’ve taken control of the GOP. Graf is the CEO of Snake River Strategies, a communications and political consulting firm based in Eagle, Idaho.
Disclaimer
The following is intended to convey an opinion on newsworthy events of public concern regarding public figures and/or public officials in the exercise of their official duties. No implications or inferences—beyond those explicitly stated in the preceding—are intended to be conveyed or endorsed by the Author. Wherever available, hyperlinks have been provided to allow readers to directly access any underlying assertions of fact upon which this opinion is based.
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