Civil ordinances are the issue for ads like this, to be sure. Retailers like AF that knowing push boundaries in an effort to get more attention have to expect that some communities will respond like this one.
I don't think private forums make a very good analogy since they are by definition, private. At issue in this case is an image that was publicly displayed.
And while respect for the views of others is wonderful, we all realize that we impose limits for ourselves on such respect. We all make decisions to value or ignore a limit based on whether we think it is reasonable. Is it reasonable to post unquestionable pornography publicly? Not in the opinion of most people, so it's generally illegal. Is it reasonable for teachers to ask children to pray at public schools? Again, not in the opinion of enough people to make that illegal too.
Did AF's ad offend someone? Apparently. Is it offensive enough to be forced out of a Virginia Beach community? The courts can figure that out.
I don't think anyone here is so selfish as to think that only their values matter. We can all pat ourselves on the back for respecting the views of others...at times. When we can see the point from within our own set of values.
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