There’s one Indiana pizza company that’s pleased as punch with the state’s new RFRA, and is already making firm plans to not serve gays who go in there and ask for pizzas for their wedding.
WALKERTON, Ind. –A small-town pizza shop is saying they agree with Governor Pence and the signing of the controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
The O’Connor family, who owns Memories Pizza, says they have a right to believe in their religion and protect those ideals.
“If a gay couple came in and wanted us to provide pizzas for their wedding, we would have to say no,” says Crystal O’Connor of Memories Pizza.
Hmmmm. You know what? I bet the marryin’ gays of Walkerton, Indiana, wouldn’t want Memories Pizza for their gay gay wedding, because something tells me it might not be the best pizza you ever had. I don’t think I would look to the O’Connor family for pizza if I lived in Walkerton, Indiana.
It’s a small-town business, with small-town ideals.
“We are a Christian establishment,” says O’Connor.
The O’Connor family prides themselves in owning a business that reflects their religious beliefs.
“We’re not discriminating against anyone, that’s just our belief and anyone has the right to believe in anything,” says O’Connor.
To believe in anything, yes, but to act on those beliefs, it depends. It depends less in Indiana (and much of the US) than it should, but it does still depend.
When ABC 57 asked O’Connor about the negative backlash the bill has been getting for being a discriminatory piece of legislation, she says that’s simply not true.
“I do not think it’s targeting gays. I don’t think it’s discrimination,” says O’Connor. “It’s supposed to help people that have a religious belief.”
O’Connor says because she’s a Christian, she and her family don’t support a gay marriage and that is their right.
Yes – again, not supporting something is their right, but acting on that non-support may not be. It depends. It is discrimination to refuse to serve people for the reason given.
Kevin O’Connor, Crystal’s father, says he believes the negative backlash the bill and its supporters are getting isn’t fair.
“That lifestyle is something they choose. 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?” says Kevin O’Connor.
I really doubt that I would like their pizza.