Friend needs advice for running off some shitty people. Preferably without having to escalate to pain in the ass levels of taking it up the chain.
Is it the sort of workplace where the labor team has control over the soundscape? Put on queer-coded playlists especially while the petitioners are present.
Set up a counter-petition, or ask for the opportunity to set up petitions for unrelated things. Make hosting that sort of political action a hassle/take up too much space in the workspace.
Is it the sort of workplace where workers wear an ID badge or lanyard? Get a variety of pride flag lanyards or keyring charms and wear them visibly.
Is this the sort of workplace where the workers have long built relationships with regular clients or customers? See if they'll speak against it to management.
You mentioned New Mexico. Weigh the benefits of reaching out to the local indeginous nations for groups organized in support of LGBTQ rights.
If anyone is thinking of quitting, especially if it's for another reason, like moving or a better offer elsewhere, they could include a comment about how this petition made the decision to leave easier.
Do you have a union? If not, then it's time. If yes, talk to your rep about this and document things like when the decision was made, how the workers were informed of the decision and whether or not you were asked for feedback, any overt bigotry on the part of the petitioners or the busiess owner. Any microaggressions, including an explanation of why it was innapropriate/bigoted/rude. (Harder to defend a 'it was just a little thing' if there's a record of a pattern to the behavior) Any other changes in the business at this time (treat each as potentially rooted in this political decision, at least for the sake of documentation.)
And if you and your coworkers can stand it, they make machines that make random intermittent beeping sounds. Enough to really annoy someone if you hide it in their office and they don't know what it is.
Good luck!
