For months, The Crimson Kiss Boutique, a romance-only bookstore dedicated to empowering women to feel beautiful and embrace themselves, has been unfairly targeted and harassed by a local fire inspector. Specifically myself, as the owner, being practically stalked. I drew boundaries with the fire inspector, in which he then threatened to shut my business down, so I told him to see himself out. 

Then, I get a surprise visit from Code Enforcement and, oddly, the Planning Department to inspect for alleged violations. This harassment has escalated to the point where our bookstore received an anonymous complaint that resulted in mischaracterizing us as a “sexually oriented business” by the Planning Department under the pretext of being within 1,500 feet of a church. 

When we asked the Planning Department if this proximity was the sole reason for their classification, they refused to answer or further inspect the store. Instead, they chose to hand the matter over to their legal department, denying us any chance to address or correct the alleged violation.

The city code in question allows for up to 10% of displayed inventory to be "adult material," a threshold that we are well within. The Crimson Kiss is not an adult store—we are a romance bookstore that promotes empowerment, self-love, and acceptance through literature. You can visit our social media platforms (TikTok, Facebook, Instagram) to see for yourself—we are not in violation of any ordinance.

The harassment from this fire inspector has gone far beyond what is reasonable. He has overstepped professional boundaries by making unannounced visits, showing up only when my car is present, and consistently changing the reasons for withholding our license. Rather than serving as a guide to ensure compliance, he has become a roadblock, using his authority to intimidate, harass, and borderline stalk.

This has reached a point where the Planning Department has denied us the opportunity to correct any "alleged" violations, even though that is the very purpose of a violation notice—to give businesses a chance to comply. This is not just about my business or the one my family runs in the same building that this also impacts. This fight represents countless other female entrepreneurs who face similar struggles with powerful gatekeepers abusing their authority to stifle or undermine women-led ventures. Other women in Panama City Beach have shared similar stories of harassment and discrimination, highlighting a disturbing pattern targeting women employees and business owners.

The issue of discrimination against women-owned businesses extends far beyond The Crimson Kiss. According to a report from the National Women's Business Council, women-owned businesses make up 42% of all businesses in the U.S. and generate $1.9 trillion in revenue. Yet, female entrepreneurs continue to face disproportionate hardship due to biased officials and powerful individuals who undermine their success.

This petition calls for increased accountability for officials abusing their power, and fair treatment for all businesses—especially those run by women. We must ensure that local officials cannot arbitrarily use their authority to threaten the livelihood of family-owned businesses and independent entrepreneurs, and that predatory men are not put in positions of power such as this.

Please stand with us to demand fairness, transparency, and justice. Together, we can help put an end to the discriminatory practices that so many women-owned businesses endure. Every signature brings us one step closer to a more equitable and supportive business environment.

Sign this petition today and join us in demanding justice for all women-owned businesses! Show women they are not alone in their struggles!