Owners of a small town privately-owned pizzeria say they agree with the new Indiana anti-gay law, but they don’t think it’s discriminatory.
The owners of a small pizzeria in Walkerton, Indiana may have bit off more than they can chew. For nine years the O’Connor family has owned Memories Pizza. They say they agree with Governor Pence’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act, but in no way do they think it’s discriminatory.
She does say they would never refuse service to a gay person or someone of a different faith, but they could not provide food or service for 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,” Crystal O’Connor told ABC 57 News. “We are a Christian establishment.”
The way Crystal sees the new law, it’s designed to help businesses stick to their religious beliefs.
“I do not think it’s targeting gays. I don’t think it’s discrimination,” O’Connor says. “It’s supposed to help people that have a religious belief.”
“We’re not discriminating against anyone, that’s just our belief and anyone has the right to believe in anything,” she adds.Â
Crystal’s dad, Kevin O’Connor, also agrees with Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and can’t understand why the law’s supporters are being criticized.
“That lifestyle is something they choose,” Kevin O’Connor says. “I choose to be heterosexual. They choose to be homosexual. Why should I be beat over the head to go along with something they choose?”
Last week another man who said he owned an Indiana restaurant told a local radio talk show he discriminated against gay people, finding ways to get them to leave his restaurant. He thought he’d make more money if straight people felt comfortable in his restaurant. The man refused to give his full name or the name of his business.
UPDATE:
Closed: Indiana Pizza Parlor That Won’t Cater Same-Sex Weddings Because, Jesus
Already Memories Pizza is getting negative reviews on Yelp, Facebook, and Twitter: