It all started when one Ohio man named Clay noticed his downstairs neighbor’s colorful pride doormat. While he loved that there were other members of the LGBTQ+ community living in his apartment building, he did hilariously take offense to the message that the doormat was sending the rest of the neighbors. So, he decided to share his thoughts on social media, and the result was a hilarious and good-natured “gay-off” between the man and his lesbian neighbors.
In the now-viral TikTok, Clay shared a clip of his Ohio neighbors’ doormat, which read, “Gayest Place In Town.” He immediately realized that he had to do something. “See, I don’t like that. I don’t like, because it implies that my place is not the gayest place in town,” he stated.
Clay then wrote his neighbors a letter challenging them to a “gay-off” and wishing them a happy Pride month.
“Hello downstairs Gay-bor (s),” the letter read. “I’m writing to let you know that I find your doormat to be extremely offensive. I personally believe that MY apt is the gayest place in town and I hereby challenge you to a gay-off.”
Ohio Gay-Off Is Sparking Joy on TikTok
Not long after, the neighbors, Cara and Lauren, responded to accept the challenge. Since that time, the self-proclaimed “gay-boy” and “lesbians” have been at war and trying to one-up each other with their colorful pride decor.
Meanwhile, Clay has been documenting the entire thing, and the internet is completely loving it.
“Everyone assumed the other apartment belonged to a gay man and hoped for an ‘enemies to lovers’ situation,” Clay told Newsweek of the situation. “But I had a strong suspicion it was lesbians. I mean, I used to joke that the third floor was the lesbian floor.”
So far, Team Lesbian is winning in the TikTok polls, but Clay isn’t shocked. “Not surprising,” he said. “I really don’t stand a chance against two lesbians, but I’m gonna give it my best gay shot.”
“I absolutely love this so much,” one TikTok user commented.
“There’s a rivalry brewing,” another stated.
“You have to step up now, it’s a Rainbow tinsel 😱, show us that you want to win,” joked another.
“This is bringing me so much joy. I love people,” a fourth comment read.
It looks like Clay, Cara, and Lauren’s Ohio gay-off also went viral at the perfect time. Pride month is so special to everyone in the community, as well as the allies who support them. Perhaps the gay-off will now become a new tradition between the neighbors, or possibly even rope in more residents of their apartment building.