LGBT community activist Greg Smith said, also on “A Closer Look,” he was “bewildered” by the sign. He said about half the responses accused the bar of racism, while the other half supported a business’ ability to establish a dress code. Saunders said at first very few people spoke out in favor of the sign, but soon he began to see support for the dress code. The immediate reaction was “outrage,” said Patrick Saunders, the interim editor of the publication “Georgia Voice” during an interview on “A Closer Look.” Others charged that the items on the list profiled and targeted African Americans in the LGBT community. Some people applauded the management’s dress code decision.

The sign quickly sparked intense and inflammatory comments on social media.