Acclaimed St. Louis restaurant Bulrush closes. Owner cites 'hate politics' in Missouri.

[pstokely]

Source: STL Post Dispatch

ST. LOUIS -- Rob Connoley has closed his acclaimed Grand Center restaurant Bulrush, saying he can no longer operate in a state that is "actively working to harm" the LGBTQ community.

Connoley was a finalist earlier this month at the prestigious James Beard Awards, and Bulrush had drawn nationwide raves for its Ozark cuisine since opening in 2019.

Connoley, who is gay, cited Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey's actions toward transgender people, including attempts to seek their medical records.

"I've done LGBT advocacy for a long time, 30-plus years, and I've never seen something like this," Connoley said. "Normally, it's legislative, and there's work you can do with your representatives and constituents. But here, it's one person doing hate politics."

Read more: https://www.stltoday.com/life-entertainment/local/food-drink/dining/acclaimed-st-louis-restaurant-bulrush-closes-owner-cites-hate-politics-in-missouri/article_d40bdfcc-331d-11ef-8ea8-efd74ea8687a.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

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[iluvtennis]

1. Wow, how sad for the community. SMDH. n/t

[hlthe2b]

2. I had grandparents from rural Missouri and spent considerable time in and around Kansas City growing up.

While conservative politics have long been the case in MO, not one of my family could believe the horrific extremist turn it has taken in the past decade(s). KC remains a bit more progressive, but the creeps at the helm of state government and the legislature impact all.

It is so sad. Kansas may have had a similar trajectory, but at least Dems do have some influence there and there is some sanity among many--at least on abortion and other issues. But, Missouri... damn. It was a border state in the civil war and much of that Confederate mentality remains--emboldened by extreme RW and now MAGA politics.

[Lonestarblue]

3. Maybe more big businesses need to close ip shop and leave these states where nothing but hatred rules.

[RussBLib]

4. ....and not just businesses run by gays...

...AG Bailey and the haters would probably love it if more gay businesses closed, but if other, non-LGBT businesses closed in solidarity with the LGBT community, it would be more impactful.

Intolerant bastards.

https://russblib.blogspot.com/?m=1

[AwakeAtLast]

5. I hope he hops over the river!

Illinois will welcome you with open arms!

[ArkansasDemocrat1]

6. Carbondale?

[paleotn]

10. Greater Chicagoland, yes. Most of the rest of IL? Probably not.

But like much of Trump land, few people actually live there.

[questionseverything]

11. Peoria, champain, Bloomington all have thriving gay communities

And have had for decades

I get so tired of the “down state “ bashing

[SaintLouisBlues]

16. Metro East. The Illinois part of St. Louis has around 400,000 people

and is reliably democratic. Second largest urban area in Illinois.

[The Polack MSgt]

26. Alton or Belleville would be good landing spots

True, the further east you go the more trumpy it gets, but at least our Governor and State's Attorney aren't out to prove how hateful the are to get MAGA street cred.

Pretty sure the MO State's Attorney is just trying to drum up name recognition for an upcoming state wide election.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

7. Sinclair, Murdoch, and whoever is behind those other RWNJ hateful tv and radio stations are to blame.

The constant propaganda promotes extremism and the noisy voters keep the uninformed voters confused.

[Cha]

8. Best of Good Luck to Rob Connoley! TY

[pfitz59]

9. Blue cities and states are a magnet to the disaffected.

Makes living here in Seattle so nice. Multitude of fine restaurants, bars and entertainments. Red states lose spice and flavor and become even more of cultural wastelands.

[AdamGG]

12. Their average SAT scores and median incomes are much lower than blue states too

Garbage in, garbage out.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

13. I'm getting a feeling Republicons are overplaying their hand these last two years or so

The koolade, maga-ade drinkers are all in.

The slightly more sane Rs are acting out over-playing so they can get maga votes.

[TexasBushwhacker]

15. Especially since we know it's all smoke and mirrors

They don't REALLY care about anything but stuffing more money into rich people's wallets. They just use abortion and LGBTQ rights to appeal to their poor, uneducated base.

[GiqueCee]

14. As if we needed more proof...

... of just how irredeemably evil Republicans are. The room-temperature IQs that support and vote for venomous snakes like Bailey are too dirt stupid to realize that they're next. The government policies upon which they are often wholly dependent, will be ripped from them, and their only hope of survival will be indentured servitude to the corporations that funded the total destruction of their lives.
Well, even as old as I am, I'm still a deadly marksman. They want a war? They're gonna get a fuck of a lot more than they bargained for.
This is their endgame, folks, make no mistake. No matter what happens come November, there will be blood. They've been ratcheting up the violent rhetoric to the boiling point, and this time they're going for broke with draconian laws unlike anything seen in living memory. But let's see to it that the corporatists have overplayed their hand, and we will hand them their asses. Whatever it takes, ladies an gentlemen, whatever it takes.

[C OH Dem]

17. Come to Columbus

This Ohio city will patronize you. Doubt you will get any backlash here.

[JohnnyRingo]

18. They'll just open a gun shop.

It's sad that people have to be so recessive. I have no idea what they hope to accomplish.

[GenThePerservering]

19. Say goodbye to another thriving business

that put your state on the map, you idiots.

[Dave Bowman]

27. Yeah, and after businesses leave because of their irrational hatred

they whine that there are no jobs where they live. Idiots.

[FakeNoose]

20. This news is sad and upsetting ... however the MAGA crowd is probably taking it as a "win"

That's how sick they are.

[Dave Bowman]

28. Sick and dumb.

[darbus]

21. Devastating loss

I have been to Bulrush twice. It was amazing. I grew up in northeast MO. It is so disheartening. I am tired of the bigots winning.

[chouchou]

22. The Hillbillies are going to bring all of us down.

[DownriverDem]

23. Please consider

moving to Michigan & opening your restaurant here.

[Evolve Dammit]

24. Magats don't deserve you. Long as a Chik-fil-a is within 100 miles...This sounds like the right decision.

[Dave Bowman]

29. True. And since learning about their homophobia

I've been calling them Shit-fil-a. Don't plan to ever eat at that putrid place.

[Evolve Dammit]

30. Me neither. It's a bastion of xtian (so-called) RWNJ's. Like Hobby Lobby they tied their horse to the train. n/t

[CaptainTruth]

25. Make America Hate Again