Indiana Hates Gay Pizza

[Joe Guy]

Indiana Pizzeria Receives Over $100,000 in Donations After Media Backlash Over Anti-Gay Comments

Greg Gilman,
Published 8:25 am, Thursday, April 2, 2015

Greg Gilman, provided by
Published 8:25 am, Thursday, April 2, 2015

Memories Pizza, the Indiana restaurant that temporarily closed on Wednesday due to backlash resulting from its public refusal to cater same-sex weddings, has had a major reversal of fortune.

Over 3,600 people have banded together to “relieve the financial loss endured by the proprietors’ stand for faith” and raised a total of $108,555 in just 17 hours through crowdfunding site GoFundMe.

Memories Pizza, “a proud Christian establishment,” took the national spotlight on Wednesday after owner Crystal O’Connor told a local ABC affiliate “we would have to say no” to a gay couple if they asked to buy a large number of pizzas for their wedding.

The business, however, said if a gay couple stepped into the restaurant, they wouldn’t be denied service — although, it’s likely gay patrons will avoid making memories at Memories all together.

The restaurant’s Yelp page has been flooded with comments criticizing owners for their belief that they have a right to discriminate against gay marrying couples. The vigorous social media backlash, paired with “threatening” phone calls, forced Memories Pizza to go “temporarily” dark.

It appears the pizzeria won’t have to re-open any time soon, since it received an additional $12,000 in the time it took to write this post.

The controversy surrounding the restaurant stems from Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which O’Connor said, “We definitely agree with” because she doesn’t think the bill targets gays or discriminates, but instead protects businesses like hers who have a religious belief.

source

[MajGenl.Meade]

Aside from the sheer tackiness of pizza and wedding.... I don't think the restaurant is right on this one. If someone places an order for 52 pizzas, that isn't catering - its delivering. Now if they had to send staff to cut the pizza and serve it - actually participate in the event - that's different. To me it's no different than refusing to send staff into a private gathering of dedicated cigar smokers (sometimes it's just a cigar).

[MajGenl.Meade]

I posted this in the wrong thread earlier

[Long Run]

Aside from the sheer tackiness of pizza and wedding.... I don't think the restaurant is right on this one. If someone places an order for 52 pizzas, that isn't catering - its delivering.

That was my take on this one -- the business owners just gratuitously inserted themselves into the argument based on an extremely unlikely scenario. And then the response by the critics and supporters. Jump the shark, this "news story" is almost over.

[Lord Jim]

the business owners just gratuitously inserted themselves into the argument

A very lucrative insertion, as it turns out....

[rubato]

I hope the owners are a gay couple pulling a Brian Bosworth on the homophobes.


yrs,
rubato