'You're gay if you...': Bengaluru gym under fire after 'homophobic' poster goes viral

Bengaluru gym faces backlash over homophobic poster. (Representative Image)

A Bengaluru gym faced backlash on Reddit after a poster displayed inside its premises was widely called out for being homophobic, sparking outrage across social media. The controversy began after a Reddit user shared a photograph of the poster on the r/bangalore subreddit.

The post was shared with the title, “Blatant homophobia at a gym in HSR. Can't believe this is real.” The image showed a poster inside a gym with a poster that read, “Gays can’t re-rack the weights, are you? (sic)”

The user who shared the post added context in the caption, writing, “Spotted this at a very prominent gym in HSR Layout. I get that people leaving weights around is annoying for everyone, but using 'gay' as a slur or an insult on a poster is wild to me. Never expected to see such outright casual homophobia displayed so proudly in a public space.”

Blatant homophobia at a gym in HSR. Can't believe this is real byu/skullkeeper0023 inbangalore

Many netizens described the language as offensive, outdated, and deeply inappropriate, especially in a city often seen as progressive and inclusive. Several netizens who claimed to be regular members of the gym expressed disappointment and anger. One user wrote, “I work out here, and I was disgusted to see this when I was picking the weights.”

Another Reddit user responded with historical context and sarcasm to highlight the absurdity of the message. The user wrote, “I don't remember which country, but when they declared homosexuality an illness there, people protested by calling their bosses and saying, 'I'm sorry, I'm ill. I'm feeling gay. I can't come to work today.’ Now you guys have an excellent opportunity to say, ‘Sorry, I'm too gay to re-rack the weights.’ If enough people do it, they'll probably get the message.”

Some users criticised not just the homophobia but also the lack of logic behind the statement. One comment read, “Not only is it homophobia, but it's also stupid logic because if a gay person is coming to the gym and can unrack the weights to do their sets, how do you then arrive at the fact that they can't rerack the weights? If they believe a gay person can't lift the weights themselves, that's another level of homophobia, but at least they are being consistent in their logic. At least whatever logic their single brain cell can handle.”

Others expressed frustration at how casually the word “gay” continues to be used as an insult even in recent times. One user wrote, “Not gonna re rack anything from now lol. But seriously, what's the problem with these s*itheads using gay as an insult in 2026?” Another added a lighter but pointed criticism, saying, “Homophobia insensitivity aside, am I the only one annoyed by the horrible grammar?”

Following the backlash, one Reddit user claimed that the gym had issued an apology. The user shared a screenshot of an alleged message from the gym, which stated, “We really apologise for the poster. Our intention was not to hurt or target any community, and we respect everyone's individuality. I think our creative team went wrong, and so we are. Please consider this a personal apology from the owner and the brand. Thank you for calling this out and helping us do better. We're learning, improving, and committed to creating a positive environment always. We removed the poster.” However, Moneycontrol could not independently authenticate the apology or confirm the gym’s official response at the time of reporting.

Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content shared on social media. Moneycontrol has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.