Indiana Pizzeria Closed, Owners “In Hiding” After Saying They Won’t Cater LGBT Wed

Indiana Pizzeria Closed, Owners “In Hiding” After Saying They Won’t Cater LGBT WeddingsThe internet has unleashed its wrath.“The Christian owners of a small Indiana pizzeria who became the first to publicly state they would deny catering an LGBT couple’s wedding in the wake of the state’s new and controversial Religious Freedom Law, said the business was forced to close Wednesday after a wave of online criticism and threats.Shortly after Memories Pizza owners told a local TV station Tuesday that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act would allow them to deny catering a same-sex wedding, 1-star Yelp reviews rolled in denouncing the business.The owners of the Walkerton, Indiana, pizzeria told ABC 57 that they would not deny service to same-sex couples, or a couple belonging to another religion, but added that they would not cater a same-sex wedding if asked.“We’re not discriminating against anyone, that’s just our belief and anyone has the right to believe in anything,” co-owner Crystal O’Connor told the station.Crystal’s father, Kevin O’Connor, also defended the decision.“That lifestyle is something they choose,” he said. “I choose to be heterosexual. They choose to be homosexual. Why would I be beat over the head to go along with something they choose?”In less than a day, thousands of negative reviews were posted on the restaurant’s Yelp page and a fake website with the company’s name was created.Walkerton Police Department officials told BuzzFeed News that investigators were looking into several threats made against Memories Pizza, including those reported by the owners and posted on social media. At least one case has been forwarded to prosecutors.Crystal O’Connor, co-owner of Memories Pizza, told The Blaze on Wednesday the restaurant was closed amid the controversy and was unsure when, or if, they would reopen the doors.“Yeah, we’re in hiding, basically,” O’Connor told Dana Loesch of The Blaze. “Basically staying in the house.”Asked whether the family was considering moving out of Walkerton, Indiana, because of the reaction, O’Connor said the family had “thought about it.”At least one tweet from a nearby high school’s golf coach prompted law enforcement to step in.Concord High School coach Jess Dooley asked Twitter users if they would join her and “burn down” the pizzeria.The Twitter account has since been deleted, but Concord schools Supt. Wayne Stubbs told ABC 57 Dooley had been suspended until further notice.But not all of the reaction online was critical of the O’Connors.A GoFundMe page set up by The Blaze after speaking with the family raised more than $32,000 in four hours.The fundraising effort drew in supporters of the pizzeria and Indiana’s Religious Freedom Law. More than 800 people donated to the fund.“We don’t know how long they’re going to stay out of business,” Jones told BuzzFeed News. “It’s supposed to go toward up-keeping their finances.”After the original goal of $25,000 was reached, Jones said staff at the show decided to continue raising the goal by $5,000 as long as people continued donating.“One of the concerns the owners raised is this is their only financial income, so they have nothing if they can’t open,” he said.The money can also go toward the family’s moving costs if they choose to relocate, he said. The show plans to invite the family to the show and present them with the funds.On Wednesday, news vans crowded Roosevelt Road in Walkerton, Indiana, where the small pizzeria is located. Neighboring businesses told BuzzFeed News the pizza shop had not opened its doors all day.Read the full piece hereMy 2 cents: threats are ALWAYS wrong. Try fighting fire with fire and everything burns. “An eye for an eye makes the world blind.” I’m a pacifist in all cases except self defense, and that store could and would have been handled by financial means.   -- source link

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