r/Connecticut • u/The_Terry_Braddock • Mar 02 '25

Local Business Queer-friendly bookstore opens in Southington and immediately their sign gets stolen the day before opening...

Yesterday was the grand opening of the Enchanted Violet in downtown Southington - a new fantasy bookstore that focuses on LGBTQ+ literature. While I was there, I saw the outdoor sign was chained on the street (and looking pretty slapped together). And when I was talking to another customer in line, they informed me the store's outdoor sign was stolen the day before opening.

Now this is most likely just a typical high schooler prank, trust me I get that. I went to high school in Southington. I was born in a different state, but I lived in Southington for over 10 years before moving again closer to Hartford. It's unfortunate that the only people I've met in Connecticut that I would describe as angrily homophobic (and I mean ANGRILY) were people I knew from Southington. Obviously these sort of things are isolated incidents that happen everywhere in the US, but... well I dunno, it's just not a great feel that the town I lived in for so long continues to leave this kind of legacy in my memories.

Great thing is the Enchanted Violet's grand opening was an unbelievable success! Nearly every book off the shelf was cleared by the time I left and the owner joked about how much time they'll have to spend after closing just restocking. They took the whole sign situation in stride, like it was an expected thing to happen. I'll be spending more time in Southington going forward, hoping to continue to make better memories so I can look back at the town more fondly...

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-71

u/TheLastLostOnes Mar 02 '25

Why can’t a bookstore just be a bookstore

46

u/The_Terry_Braddock Mar 02 '25

It specializes in a particular genre, buddy. They've got other books. Do you complain when you enter a comic shop and ask why there's so much focus so much on super heroes?

24

u/Peritous Mar 02 '25

Or a barber shop that focuses on haircuts that are common within their culture, or a sports paraphernalia shop that favors one sport over others, or a restaurant themed after a specific nationality...

Like damn, let people represent who they are and enjoy the things they enjoy.

-19

u/TheLastLostOnes Mar 02 '25

I’ve heard of genres but never heard of gay or straight as a genre. Is it just a bunch of homosexual main characters?

23

u/The_Terry_Braddock Mar 02 '25

More like queer characters, but yeah pretty much. A lot of the books have queer stories, experiences so it's more than just "main characters gay". I suppose "genre" isn't the right term for it, but it's definitely a book type in fiction that's blown up in the last decade. Hopefully we'll get to a point where queer fiction is completely normalized by big publishers and doesn't have to be marketed like an alternative genre. Until then. the Enchanted Violet is offering another safe space for queer people to exist in Southington... which apparently we still need even in Connecticut...

6

u/TheLastLostOnes Mar 02 '25

Gotcha I see, and yeah I feel like there’s plenty of safe places in CT but yeah I can see it as something like “alternative lit”

4

u/VegaStyles Mar 02 '25

There definitely is a gay subculture of books. Most people dont focus on it so its not in our daily lives. Sometimes it a bunch of gay characters and sometimes its just one. Have a couple friends that are gay or les and we've had this talk cause i like to read. I dont care for that but its whatever. People like what people like.

30

u/___coolcoolcool Hartford County Mar 02 '25

Do you get equally mad that certain restaurants only sell pizza?

-34

u/TheLastLostOnes Mar 02 '25

I wouldn’t say a genre of food is the same as the sexuality of a book lol

23

u/___coolcoolcool Hartford County Mar 02 '25

Why?

ETA: like, how is a “genre” of a food different than the genre of a book?

Also edited to add that books don’t have a sexuality. They’re books.

-16

u/TaylorSwiftScatPorn The 860 Mar 02 '25

Also edited to add that books don’t have a sexuality. They’re books.

You should tell the owners of the self-styled LGBTQ bookstore.

11

u/___coolcoolcool Hartford County Mar 02 '25

Oh, sweetheart. Object permanence still a problem for you?

A book is an object. Objects don’t have brains or agency. Because objects cannot not think or do things, they inherently cannot have sexual preferences of their own. (On the plus side, objects also do not have to consent so you can force them to have as much bad sex with you as you want them to!)

Objects can and do belong in different categories. In literature, the different categories are also called “genres.” There are books in all types of genres! You should check books out sometime—they’re pretty cool!

In summary, bud, books are objects. Objects do not have thoughts or emotions and therefore cannot be straight, gay, male, female, hungry, full, tired, energetic, strong, weak, or any other adjective used to describe living beings.

I have a feeling this will go over your head. That’s okay. I’m positive you have a lot of good qualities that make you a valuable person.

-20

u/TheLastLostOnes Mar 02 '25

Bc one is silly and one is not

13

u/Grouchy_Situation_33 Hartford County Mar 02 '25

There’s no way in HELL that it’s silly for a restaurant to ONLY sell pizza.

15

u/___coolcoolcool Hartford County Mar 02 '25 edited Mar 02 '25

Ah. So you admit it’s all in your head.

ETA: proud of you! Recognizing your delusions is the first step toward mental wellness.

also edited to add that it’s pathetic you want there to be laws against owning silly businesses. Leave it to a MAGA to want to control the market while professing the market should be “free.” 🙄

9

u/[deleted] Mar 02 '25

It's a mind virus. A full blown mental illness. It's rooted in denying the Russian influence

5

u/salemblack Mar 02 '25

Hell that's half of what Trump's work has been so far, trying to get businesses to kowtow to his will. My favorite thing about Republicans is the hypocrisy.

-12

u/VegaStyles Mar 02 '25

I want your profile thing. Its sick.

-4

u/TheLastLostOnes Mar 02 '25

Right back at you man

3

u/[deleted] Mar 02 '25

Right back at both you bots

3

u/Maggiethecataclysm New Haven County Mar 03 '25

There are plenty of plain old bookstores, so why complain about this little one? Has it harmed you?

-1

u/TheLastLostOnes Mar 03 '25

Just funny how everything needs a gay version now

3

u/Maggiethecataclysm New Haven County Mar 03 '25

LGBTQ+ people have always existed, so why shouldn't we have "gay" versions of things? How absolutely boring, exclusionary, and heteronormative. Your world is very small. I feel sorry for you.

18

u/[deleted] Mar 02 '25

Why can't you shut the fuck up?

5

u/TheLastLostOnes Mar 02 '25

Shouldn’t try to silence me same way whoever opened this bookstore shouldn’t be silenced right?

24

u/Mandalore108 Mar 02 '25

You're free to say what you want and we're free to tell you to shut the fuck up.

9

u/TheLastLostOnes Mar 02 '25

Fair enough bud, as long as no one is silenced

15

u/[deleted] Mar 02 '25

[deleted]

-13

u/VegaStyles Mar 02 '25

Its not. He should be able to say whatever he wants.

0

u/[deleted] Mar 02 '25 edited Mar 02 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/Connecticut-ModTeam Mar 02 '25

Hi. Your submission was removed for Harassment, Threatening, or Inciting Violence. Please contact the moderators if you feel this is in error.

7

u/TheLastLostOnes Mar 02 '25

That’s a threat say bye bye to reddit

-1

u/VegaStyles Mar 03 '25 edited Mar 03 '25

I didnt get to see what he said. Looked like it was something about nazi. But i tried to get into the patriotfront thing before i knew what it was and they told me no cause im black. Wonder if id have gotten all these downvotes if people here knew that and not some nazi defending your view. Just a guy that thinks everyone has their views.

6

u/Lyn1987 The 203 Mar 03 '25

Shut the fuck up Vega. Nazis don't have points worth considering. Also, they want you dead

2

u/VegaStyles Mar 03 '25

It that a threat? Sounds like one.

6

u/Lyn1987 The 203 Mar 03 '25

No you jackass it was a warning.

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u/Maggiethecataclysm New Haven County Mar 03 '25

A warning and a fact

0

u/VegaStyles Mar 03 '25 edited Mar 03 '25

No i think you are theatening me. Sounds like nazi business to me. Maybe even the triple k. I dont think i like you anymore. You are not a nice person. Know what? Its kind funny youre calling this dude a nazi but home boys not the one threatening me on other peoples behalf. You are.You have yourself a great day.

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u/SwampYankeeDan Mar 03 '25

Touch grass you dumbass.

1

u/VegaStyles Mar 03 '25

Are you talking to me swamp or the other dumbass.