Tag: anti-gay

Posted on

Indiana Pizzeria: We Would Turn Away Gay Wedding Customers

Crystal O’Connor of Memories Pizza

A Indiana pizzeria has gone on record as saying they would turn away gay or lesbian couples who would order pizza for their wedding reception.

(Who serves pizza at a wedding reception?)

The family-owned Memories Pizza, located in Walkerton, told a local news team Tuesday night that they would refuse service to a same-sex wedding.

“If a gay couple came in and wanted us to provide pizzas for their wedding, we would have to say no,” owner Crystal O’Connor told ABC 57. “We are a Christian establishment.”

She had been asked about the Religious Freedom Restoration Act signed by Governor Mike Pence (R) last week, which critics say would legitimize discrimination of the exact sort O’Connor described.

The family emphasized that they would not refuse service to gay couples who came into the pizzeria to eat, but would not cater same-sex weddings. “We’re not discriminating against anyone,” O’Connor said, “that’s just our belief, and anyone has the right to believe in anything.”

Her father added that the homosexual lifestyle was a “choice,” as he chose to be heterosexual. “Why should I be beat over the head to go along with something they choose?” he asked.

Conservative proponents of the current RFRA have repeatedly said not one business in Indiana has said they would turn gays away.

Well, now there is.

The restaurant apparently has a One-Star rating on Yelp.

Posted on

Ed Schultz Gives Ryan Anderson Epic Slap Down Over Indiana “License To Discriminate”

I caught the end of this segment yesterday just as Ed Schultz was ripping little Ryan T. Anderson a new one for parroting the same right wing talking points. Quite the show.

From Mediate:

Schultz pointed to the hypothetical of a gay couple being turned away from a restaurant because of the owner’s beliefs, but Anderson shot back that conservatives don’t actually believe that and accused Schultz of “demagoguing.”

They kept fighting after Schultz took a shot at Governor Mike Pence over his personal views on gay people. Anderson said, “You just kept slandering the governor!” Schultz fired back, “I’m not gonna let you filibuster.”

When Anderson kept going, Schultz shouted, “Cut his mic off!… We’ll bring him back if he wants to be courteous!”

Minutes later Schultz brought Anderson back into the conversation, and he maintained his belief that Pence is a homophobe. Anderson accused him of “name-calling” but Schultz brushed him aside.

Schultz concluded by saying, “I apologize for the guy from The Heritage Foundation who can’t have a civil conversation.”

Posted on

NIKE Denounces Indiana’s “License To Discriminate”

NIKE’s CEO issued this statement today denouncing Indiana’s “license to discriminate” law and reiterates support for the LGBT community.

From NIKE President/CEO Mark Parker:

“NIKE proudly stands for inclusion for all. We believe laws should treat people equally and prevent discrimination. NIKE has led efforts alongside other businesses to defeat discriminatory laws in Oregon and opposes the new law in Indiana which is bad for our employees, bad for our consumers, bad for business and bad for society as a whole. We hope Indiana will quickly resolve this.”

As one of the world’s largest athletic apparel companies, NIKE is a longtime supporter of the LGBT community.

NIKE supported marriage equality in Oregon from the beginning, established LGBT protections for employees early on, and received a perfect 100 percent score on HRC’s 2015 Corporate Equality Index.

Posted on

Arkansas Follows Indiana – Passes “License To Discriminate” Bill

Arkansas passed a religious freedom bill on Tuesday that is similar to an Indiana law that has faced national backlash for legalizing discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Continue reading “Arkansas Follows Indiana – Passes “License To Discriminate” Bill”

Posted on

CNN’s Chris Cuomo Takes Down Indiana Hater – “Own Who And What You Are”

CNN’s Chris Cuomo does not suffer fools lightly. And he proved that once again this morning.

If you come on his show, you better know your stuff. Clearly, Ryan McCann was not prepared to be confronted with facts.

From Mediate:

New Day host Chris Cuomo, who’s become a one-man wrecking ball over Indiana’s just-passed “religious liberty” bill, confronted Ryan McCann, Policy Director of the Indiana Family Institute, Tuesday morning for his third contentious interview on the subject in the past 24 hours.

McCann argued that the bill only ensures protections for religious minorities, something Cuomo said was belied by the presence of anti-LGBT figures at the bill’s signing. McCann said that the statements Cuomo was alluding to had been passed around the internet “by the left.”

Things got personal when Cuomo demanded McCann account for the real motives behind the bill, which was supported by “groups like yours, that are Christian-based, with an animus toward the LGBT community. Own who and what you are. There’s nothing wrong with that you’re allowed to believe it but you’re not about native americans or people who want liver transplants, right?”

Posted on

FRC’s Peter Sprigg Gets Schooled By CNN’s Chris Cuomo On Indiana “License To Discriminate”

CNN’s Chris Cuomo delivers an epic take-down of virulently anti-gay Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council over Indiana’s “License To Discriminate” legislation – SB101.

Excerpt via Mediaite:

“There is a picture that’s circulating around of the governor as he signed [the bill],” Cuomo said. “Several of the people in the picture are outspoken critics of gay existence. Now, that’s not a coincidence. It’s not a coincidence why you’re against it. Let me ask you, why do so many Christians these days believe that the exercise of their faith requires exclusion and judgment of others?”

“Some people have a sincere, conscientious belief that marriage is defined as the union between a man and a woman,” Sprigg replied. “In fact the majority of Americans believe that.”

“Popularity is not the ultimate arbiter of what is right and wrong if protecting rights under the Constitution,” Cuomo said. “The question then goes to: why do you need this? What is it about someone being gay or someone wanting to marry someone of the same sex — what is there in that that is keeping you from being the Christian you want to be?…If I said, Mr. Sprigg, you must go marry a man right now, you can say, no, that’s a violation of my faith. Maybe that, you would be able clear this burden. But how is wanting to judge others somehow stopping you from practicing your faith?”

The upshot? We’re not crazy here, kids. Everyone sees this. The haters just don’t want to say it out loud.

Forward.

Posted on

Indiana: NBA Legend Charles Barkley Calls Foul On SB101

Indiana’s SB101, signed into law Thursday by Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R), has former NBA legend Charles Barkley calling for the NCAA to move the NCAA Final Four tournament out of Indiana.

The newly enacted law “prohibits state or local governments from substantially burdening a person’s ability to exercise their religion,” according to The Indianapolis Star.

In essence, the law gives businesses a legal foundation to refuse service to LGBT individuals in the name of religious freedom.

“Discrimination in any form is unacceptable to me,” Barkley said in a statement Friday afternoon. “As long as anti-gay legislation exists in any state, I strongly believe big events such as the Final Four and Super Bowl should not be held in those states’ cities.”

In addition, another former NBA star – Reggie Miller – tweeted his disappointment over “legalized” discrimination in his adopted home state.

Posted on

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray Bans City-Funded Travel To Indiana

Mayor Ed Murray with George Takei

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray announced a ban on travel to Indiana by city officials today, in light of the passage of Indiana’s anti-gay “license to discriminate” legislation – S.B. 101.

“Seattleites know that discrimination has no place in our City – that’s just equality 101.” – Seattle Mayor Ed Murray

Via press release:

Indiana’s S.B. 101 doesn’t reflect the values of our City. Seattle has been a leader in the fight to protect civil rights and ensure equality for all people – no matter who you are, or who you love. This is why I am ordering that none of our taxpayer dollars should go toward supporting this discriminatory law. To those in Indiana today who are working hard in the fight for equality – know that Seattle stands with you as you continue your efforts to end discrimination and protect civil rights for everyone.

The executive action will ban all work-related and city-funded travel to the state of Indiana.

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee has issued a similar executive order for his city, and more are lining up.

According to King5 News, Mayor Murray made his announcement after meeting with actor and LGBT activists George Takei and his husband Brad Altman last evening.