By Sky News US Team
The owners of an Indiana pizzeria who provoked uproar after refusing to cater for gay weddings say they have shut down.
The restaurant sparked a furious backlash after becoming the first business in the Midwestern state to invoke its new religious-objection law in denying service to gay couples.
An Indiana girls' golf coach is facing a criminal investigation after she tweeted a suggestion that the restaurant be burned down.
Opponents of the Indiana law, and a similar one in Arkansas, have warned the legislation would spur discrimination against LGBT people.
Amid national outcry, Indiana lawmakers unveiled an amended bill on Thursday morning, a week after they enacted the original version.
Arkansas is expected to follow suit.
Memories Pizza co-owner Crystal O'Connor told TheBlaze, a news network run by conservative talk show host Glenn Beck: "I don't know if we will re-open, or if we can, if it's safe to re-open.
"We're in hiding basically, staying in the house."
As well as a flood of critical online reviews on Yelp, the restaurant reportedly received a number of threatening messages.
Walkerton Police Department in Indiana told Sky News they are investigating Jess Dooley for possible harassment, intimidation and threats.
On Tuesday, the Concord High School coach allegedly tweeted: "Who's going to Walkerton, IN to burn down #memoriespizza w me?" The post has since been deleted.
She has also reportedly been suspended by the school.
One Yelp reviewer said: "Jesus dined with thieves and hookers. You really think He's gonna worry if gay people eat your pizza?"
Other contributors wondered who would buy pizza to cater for a wedding anyway.
But a GoFundMe page set up for the restaurant has raised nearly $100,000 (£67,500) from sympathisers.
On Wednesday, Memories co-owner Kevin O'Connor said he would serve a gay customer in his store, but would not provide food for a same-sex wedding.
"That lifestyle is something they choose. I choose to be heterosexual," Mr O'Conner told ABC 57.
"They choose to be homosexual. Why should I be beat over the head to go along with something they choose?"
On Thursday, Arkansas' legislature was working on a new, watered-down version of its Religious Freedom Restoration Act, passed on Tuesday, after the Republican governor bowed to pressure not to sign it.
Some 20 US states and the federal government have passed so-called religious freedom laws, which allow individuals to sue the government if they believe their religious rights have been violated.
But Indiana and Arkansas' versions go further than most by covering private business transactions, say legal analysts.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Pizzeria Closes After Rejecting Gay Weddings
Dengan url
http://anterinjemput.blogspot.com/2015/04/pizzeria-closes-after-rejecting-gay.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Pizzeria Closes After Rejecting Gay Weddings
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Pizzeria Closes After Rejecting Gay Weddings
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar