“Hate speech” is a loaded term that means different things to different people. And as divided as we are, not only as a nation, but across the world, what’s “hate speech” to one person is simply an “opinion” to someone else.

But I’d like to think we can all agree that the words on the marquee at a strip club in Vancouver, Canada, does NOT qualify as hate speech: Forever neighbours, never neighbors.

The marquee’s message is a dig at incoming President Donald Trump’s comments that Canada should become the 51st US state. Said Trump on his Truth Social account, “No one can answer why we subsidize Canada to the tune of over $100,000,000 a year? Makes no sense! Many Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State. They would save massively on taxes and military protection. I think it is a great idea,” he added. “51st State!!!” 

Was he joking? Possibly. But many in Canada have had something to say about his comments. The Penthouse Nightclub (no affiliation with the trademarked “Penthouse” brand in the US or any of those clubs) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, utilized their marquee to offer their own commentary. “Neighbours” is the preferred spelling of the word in Canada, and the marquee echoes the sentiments of many that Canada would never willingly forgo their autonomy and join the US as its 51st state.

While that sentiment hardly qualifies as “hate speech,” the club’s post on “X” (formerly Twitter) was not only removed by the platform, but their account was suspended after the marquee’s message was classified by Elon Musk’s “X” as “hate speech.” Specifically, “X” told them that they shut down the club’s account saying “it violates the X Hateful Profile Policy.”

“When I first saw the words ‘hate speech’ my heart dropped,” Penthouse Nightclub’s social media manager Benjamin Jackson, told the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation).”Still right now, I find myself a little speechless because it’s shocking, just obviously knowing that it’s clearly not hate speech.”

The Penthouse marquee is already famous in Vancouver thanks to Jackson’s ability to combine the business of exotic dancing with current affairs headlines.

When CBC News spoke to Penthouse Nightclub owner Danny Filippone, he was in the process of ordering 100 T-shirts with “Forever neighbours, never neighbors” on the front, at the request of a Seattle businessman.

“This particular marquee, the whirlwind and the amount of attention — literally the phone has been ringing every five minutes,” Filippone told the CBC, whose family has owned the club since the 1930s.

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For over 25 years, ED Publisher Dave Manack has been the Editor-In-Chief for ED Publications, the national business magazine (ED Magazine), convention (Gentlemen's Club EXPO) and websites for the multi-billion-dollar gentlemen's club (strip club) industry. Dave coordinates and produces several events at the Annual EXPO including the seminars and the ED's Awards Show, and is also the founder and producer of the EDI (Exotic Dancer Invitational) national contest for the industry's top "showgirl" entertainers.

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