WALKERTON, Ind. — An Indiana pizza shop that came under fire after its owners said they would refuse to cater a same-sex wedding, have been rewarded with more than $500,000 in donations while the restaurant’s owners say they’ve gone into hiding.
Memories Pizza in Walkerton faced criticism this week after co-owner Crystal O’Connor appeared in a local news report expressing support for a new Indiana religious objections law.
O’Connor told WBND-TV the business reflects her family’s Christian beliefs, which wouldn’t allow them to cater a gay couple’s wedding.
O’Connor’s father, Kevin, also appeared in the report telling the reporter being gay is a choice. He said he chose to be straight, so “why should I be beat over the head because (gays) choose that lifestyle?”
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The Facebook and Yelp pages for the restaurant about 20 miles southwest of South Bend were bombarded with negative reviews, and O’Connor said he family started receiving death threats.
A coach of a high school golf program was suspended after a Twitter post that mentioned going to Walkerton and burning down the restaurant.
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WNDU-TV reports that O’Connor and her family are considering leaving town.
The Indiana religious freedom law has since been amended to prohibit individuals and for-profit businesses from using the law to refuse service based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
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